GoKawiilDutch police arrest Pepijn van der Stap, suspected ShinyHunters leader
Dutch authorities arrested Pepijn van der Stap, a Dutch man previously convicted of data theft and extortion in 2023, who reportedly joined cybersecurity firm Neo Security after his release last year. Krebs on Security and Reuters identify him as the suspect, though neither Dutch police nor the FBI officially named him, and ShinyHunters denies he has any association with the group. Dutch police say he is also suspected of incitement to commit two murders, while FBI officials describe him as one of the group's alleged leaders.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The arrest, paired with public warnings from FBI Cyber Division official Brett Leatherman, suggests authorities are trying to pressure remaining ShinyHunters members into surrendering by signaling ongoing surveillance and identification efforts. ShinyHunters' denial of any link to Van der Stap raises questions about the reliability of attribution in cybercrime cases, where suspects and law enforcement often give conflicting accounts. FBI Director Kash Patel's statement indicates the investigation is continuing, which could lead to further arrests tied to the group.
- Pepijn van der Stap, previously convicted of data theft in 2023, was arrested in the Netherlands as a suspected ShinyHunters leader.
- ShinyHunters publicly denies any association with Van der Stap, per Reuters.
- FBI officials say the investigation is ongoing and warn other alleged group members to come forward.
Source: theverge.com — Emma Roth, 2026-09-29
Published there as: “Suspected ShinyHunters leader arrested in the Netherlands”
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