Pentagon leaks: how Jack Teixeira was identified as the alleged source

An online sleuthing group, a news media outlet and the FBI all followed digital breadcrumbs leading to the 21-year-old

Until Jack Teixeira appeared in federal court on Friday morning, the unmasking of the alleged Pentagon leaker had taken on the air of a fascinating mystery novel.

Among those vying for starring roles were the online sleuthing group Bellingcat, which on 9 April publicly identified the private Discord server where Teixeira is said to have posted classified documents; and the New York Times, which matched images of the Teixeira family kitchen where the top secret papers were supposedly photographed to the 21-year-old defendant's social media profile.