Pakistan teen arrested in AI-assisted poisoning plot

A 17-year-old student in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, has been arrested following an alleged attempt to poison his father. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) took the suspect into custody after receiving a tip from the FBI regarding suspicious digital activity.

Investigators report that the teenager used the AI chatbot Claude to research lethal substances, including methanol and abrin. The suspect, reportedly influenced by the television series ‘Breaking Bad’, had established a small laboratory at home to conduct chemical experiments. Authorities seized an iPhone 15 Pro Max and various chemicals, such as ethylene glycol, hydrochloric acid, and potassium hydroxide, during the operation.

The initial attempt to poison his father using methanol allegedly failed, prompting the suspect to seek further information from AI platforms on how to administer more lethal toxins.