Scot among three men arrested over e-mail viruses

A SCOT was arrested yesterday as part of a police operation targeting a gang that allegedly spread viruses in e-mails. Police seized computer equipment in raids in Grampian, Suffolk and Finland.

Detectives said the "highly organised" group was suspected of writing computer viruses. The gang has been linked to viruses used to create a "zombie network" of computers under its control - enabling gang members to gain access to personal or commercial information stored on computers without their owners' knowledge. The gang is alleged to have targeted UK businesses since at least 2005 and thousands of computers are thought to have been infected worldwide.

Metropolitan Police said a 28-year-old man was arrested a in the Grampian area. He was being interviewed last night along with a 63-year-old man in Suffolk and a 19-year-old in Finland.