Teenager Arrested for Cyber Attack on Northern Ireland Schools' IT System

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on April 15, 2026, in Portadown as part of an investigation into a cyber attack that disrupted the Education Authority's IT systems in Northern Ireland. The attack, reported on April 2, 2026, affected access to educational resources for potentially hundreds of thousands of students during the Easter holidays. The arrest was made under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, and the teenager has since been released pending further inquiries. The cyber attack specifically targeted the C2K network, which is essential for curriculum support in schools across the region. The Education Authority has apologized for the disruption caused to students preparing for exams. The investigation is ongoing, with police continuing to assess the full impact of the incident.

Key Points: • A 16-year-old was arrested for a cyber attack on the Education Authority's IT systems. • The attack locked students out of essential educational resources during the Easter holidays. • The investigation is ongoing, with the teenager released pending further inquiries.