Brazilian Civil Police arrested Ítalo Francisco Mendes Barbiot over threatening letters sent to financial executives and São Paulo residents. The letters contained explosive material and demanded 1.7 million reais, nearly $300,000, in bitcoin. Police also linked him to similar letters containing ricin that threatened executives at a crypto exchange; he told police he was responsible for both cases.
Police identified him after tracing a subway fare paid through a smartphone app. An officer described him as a lone actor, but police are still investigating whether any victims paid and whether other perpetrators were connected to attacks on letter recipients. Reports did not say whether authorities confiscated any cryptocurrency.
