Two British teens charged over London transport hack that lasted weeks
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The 2024 hack disrupted millions of travellers' ability to pay for some services and access information online.
PHOTO: EPA
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LONDON - British authorities have charged two men over a cyberattack that disrupted London’s transport network for several weeks in 2024.
Thalha Jubair, 19, from East London, and Owen Flowers, 18, from Walsall, West Midlands, were arrested following a lengthy investigation into the hack on Transport for London, or TfL, the National Crime Agency (NCA) said in a statement on Sept 18.
TfL runs much of London’s rail, underground and bus services.
The hack on its network, beginning on Aug 31, 2024, did not shut down transport in the city, but it did disrupt millions of travellers’ ability to pay for some services and access information online.
The National Crime Agency said the cyberattack was carried out by members of a gang known as Scattered Spider and that it caused millions of pounds in losses to the organisation.
UK prosecutors said that Flowers and Jubair would face computer misuse and fraud-related charges. Both are scheduled to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates Court on Sept 18.
“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings,” said the Crown Prosecution Service’s chief crown prosecutor Hannah von Dadelszen.
In addition to the charges concerning TfL, Flowers was charged with alleged involvement in attacks that targeted US health-care companies SSM Health Care Corporation and Sutter Health.
Jubair has been charged with a separate offence for allegedly failing to disclose the pin code or passwords for devices seized from him.
Mr Paul Foster, head of the National Crime Agency’s Cyber Crime Unit, said the charges were the result of a “lengthy and complex” investigation.
“Earlier this year, the NCA warned of an increase in the threat from cybercriminals based in the UK and other English-speaking countries,” said Mr Foster in a statement.
“The NCA, UK policing and our international partners, including the FBI, are collectively committed to identifying offenders within these networks and ensuring they face justice.” BLOOMBERG
