An Israeli teenager suspected of hacking into a US police system and erasing records has been arrested and questioned by local police.

The unnamed 19-year-old was released on bail after appearing before a court yesterday in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba. The youth, who may be charged with computer fraud offences, allegedly hacked into a police computer system in Pennsylvania. Israeli police brought the youth in for questioning following a tip-off from the FBI, which is leading the investigation in the US.

Details of the alleged attack remain sketchy, but Israeli police spokesman Gil Kleiman told AP that the hacking "destroyed some records in the computer system of the [Pennsylvania] police department". ®