Bitcoin programmer Jon Atack was arrested and released in El Salvador

Last weekend, senior Bitcoin programmer Jon Atack was arrested by the police in El Salvador and later released. He described the incident as due to "false accusations."

Incident Developments

The incident exploded on social media after Atack tweeted that his phone and passport had been confiscated. Initially, he was informed about the possibility of being detained at a nearby jail, but he later avoided this.

Stacy Herbert, Director of the National Bitcoin Office #ElSalvador , stated that Atack's neighbor called the police after a quarrel. Herbert accused Atack of using offensive language towards a woman, which is prohibited by El Salvador's Comprehensive Special Law on Non-Violent Life for Women (LEIV), which includes "violent speech against women." Herbert asserted that Atack was treated fairly and legally throughout the incident.

About an hour after being arrested, Atack was released by the police and received his personal belongings. He described the police as "professional and friendly." Atack stated that the dispute with his neighbor was related to his refusal to participate in a lawsuit against the previous owners of their land.

Although Atack's arrest initially raised concerns in the Bitcoin community, it appeared to be unrelated to Bitcoin ($BTC ). The incident became a BTC-related event due to El Salvador's connection to BTC tourism, Atack being a person working in the BTC field in the country, and the National Bitcoin Office Director managing media communication about this situation.