A 19-year-old man accused of large-scale cyberattacks on Bulgarian National Radio, Bulgarian National Television and state institutions will stay in custody. The court ordered him held in detention, the strictest preventive measure.

Officers from the organised crime unit GDBOP arrested him in Sofia on Wednesday, 28 October. Prosecutors then charged him with stealing and selling personal data.

The previous development: Man, 19, charged over hacks of institution websites, BNT and BNR

Prosecutors say he used artificial intelligence in the attacks and the data theft, and hid his access to other people's computer networks with special anonymous-browsing profiles. They also say he set up Telegram accounts, used them to trade the stolen information, and took payment in cryptocurrency.

Lawyer Yulian challenged the evidence and asked the court to review it. He said the young man has no previous criminal record and that there is no firm proof linking him to the attacks. A witness had contact with a channel on the site, not with the accused in person, he said.

"Not one of the witnesses says they know him," Yulian told the court. "There is nothing to show he committed any crimes on the dates the prosecutors name," he added.

The defence asked for bail or house arrest, but the court rejected both. It cited the seriousness of the charges and the risk of new offences, and said house arrest would not be enough to stop this kind of activity.

An appeal against the ruling can be filed within three days. If one is filed, the hearing is set for 5 November.