Quote:
It has to be the ultimate train set. But when a schoolboy took control of a city's tram network, chaos ensued and dozens of passengers were left injured.
Adam Dabrowski, 14, hacked into the public transport network in his home city and used a TV-style remote control he had built to change the points at key junctions.
The chaos began in Lodz, Poland, when a tram driver tried to steer his vehicle on to a right-hand track - only to find him-self swerving left.
The rear wagon then careered off the rails and crashed into another tram, hurling creaming passengers to the floor.
Altogether, four trams were derailed while Dabrowski was at the controls, with 12 people injured in one incident alone.
Police immediately knew they were looking for a hacker and investigations quickly led them to the youngster - described by teachers as a model pupil and electronic genius - who said he had done it as a prank.
Police spokesman Miroslaw Micor said: "He studied the trams and the tracks for a long time and then built a device that looked like a TV remove control and used it to maneuver the trams."
"He treated it like any other schoolboy might a giant train-set - but it was lucky that nobody was killed"
"Four trams were derailed and others had to make emergency stops that left passengers hurt"
"He clearly did not think about the consequences of his actions"
Dabrowski is to face charges of endangering public safety over Tuesday's incident.
I saw this when returning to Uni on Friday. thought it was quite amusing!
15 Jan 2008, 5:41 am
