How Online Plots Lead to Real World Crimes

Nov. 14, 2007— -- Reports that a Finnish teenager who shot eight people at a school last week had been in touch with an American boy allegedly plotting his own school shooting shed light on the darker corners of the Internet where people can meet to plot, share information, or seek co-conspirators, experts told ABC NEWS.com

Law enforcement, forensic psychology and Internet crime experts all described the online meeting of the two teens as one incident in a growing trend in which likeminded criminals -- from pedophiles to terrorists -- use the Web to find and consultant with one another.

"The beauty of the Internet is that it allows communities of interests to gather together, be they orchid growers dog show enthusiasts or fans of a band. The darker side is that it can also bring together terrorists, pedophiles or kids who want to re-create Columbine," said Julie M. Albright, a sociologist at the University of Southern California and an expert in Internet crime.

Discussing the 1999 Columbine High School massacre made up the bulk of the teens' conversations, said J. David Farrell attorney for Dillon Cossey, 14, who was accused last month in Pennsylvania of plotting a school shooting in Philadelphia.

District Attorney Bruce Castor said US investigators have yet to find evidence of the conversations on Cossey's computer but that the boy "idolized and worshipped [Columbine shooters] [Dylon] Klebold and [Eric] Harris."

Finnish police and Cossey's attorney confirm the boys met in cyberspace.

The prosecutor learned about the conversations from Cossey, who denied the boys planned their killing sprees together. Cossey did admit to "fantasizing about being a military leader" and "getting a gun and getting hand grenades," Castor said.

Police say Auvinen posted YouTube videos showing him posing with a gun just 30 minutes before last week's attack. One of the video clips, titled "Jokela High School Massacre," showed a picture of the school and two photos of Auvinen holding a handgun.

In Pennsylvania last month investigators found a rifle, about 30 air-powered guns modeled to look like higher-powered weapons, swords, knives, a bomb-making book, videos of the 1999 Columbine attack and violence-filled notebooks. Police allege Cossey, though home schooled, was plotting to shoot up a local Philadelphia high school.