London, United Kingdom (AFP) — A 17-year-old boy has been apprehended in connection with a cyber attack targeting Transport for London (TfL), the organization responsible for the city’s public transport networks, UK police announced on Thursday.
The cyber attack, discovered on September 1, breached TfL’s systems, compromising customer names and contact details. Additionally, some refund data, which may include sensitive bank account information, was potentially accessed.
Paul Foster, Deputy Director of the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) cyber crime unit, underscored the severity of the incident. “We have been working at pace to support Transport for London following a cyberattack on their network, and to identify the criminal actors responsible,” he stated. “Attacks on public infrastructure such as this can be hugely disruptive and lead to severe consequences for local communities and national systems.”
This incident follows a significant cyberattack in June that caused major interruptions at several London hospitals. The attack, which struck a firm supplying lab services, particularly impacted blood transfusions and led to the cancellation of hundreds of medical appointments and operations. Some of the UK’s largest hospitals, including King’s College Hospital and Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital, were among those affected.
The NCA reported that the teenager suspected of orchestrating the TfL cyberattack was arrested in central England on September 5. After being questioned, he was released on bail pending further investigation.
As authorities continue to probe into this breach, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities and potential disruptions modern public infrastructures face in the digital age.
