The FBI reportedly used Israeli high-technology to swiftly hack into the phone of Thomas Matthew Crooks, the 20-year-old who attempted to assassinate former US President Donald Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. According to the Washington Post, Cellebrite, an Israeli firm, was enlisted to unlock Crooks’ phone within 40 minutes, a task that might have otherwise taken weeks or months.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Crooks, armed with an assault rifle legally purchased by his father, killed one person and critically injured two others during the rally, even grazing Trump’s right ear with a bullet. The US Secret Service neutralized Crooks on the spot. His phone, recovered from his body, was hacked to uncover his motives, which remain unclear.
Cellebrite, listed on NASDAQ, has faced criticism for selling its services to repressive regimes. However, its technology proved vital in this case. Investigators are also probing the possibility of a second phone found with a dead battery at Crooks’ home in Bethel Park.
Neighbors and Crooks’ school counselor described him and his family as normal, with one calling him a “quiet, dorky kid.” The counselor, who knew his older sister, refuted claims of school bullying, characterizing Crooks as “quiet,” “intelligent,” and “well-spoken.” Despite his parents being loving social workers, they may have missed specifics of his life, though Trump signs were seen on their lawn.
