UK Energy Chiefs Briefed After Iran-Linked Cyber Attack on Small Generator
Briefing and Response to Cyber Attack on UK Energy Sector
Incident Overview
LONDON, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Britain on Monday briefed energy company chiefs on steps to protect their assets after media reports said Iran-linked hackers had shut down a small energy facility, saying there was no threat to the wider electricity system.
Details of the Cyber Attack
The Telegraph and Financial Times reported that a cyber attack, which the newspapers said took place in July and attributed to Iran-linked hackers, had forced a small British generator offline for four days.
Government and Industry Response
Official Statements
While not commenting on who was behind the incident or when and where it happened, Michael Shanks, the minister for energy, said the government and industry had taken the incident seriously and were working with regulators and the National Cyber Security Centre to assess threats and strengthen protections.
Assurance of Grid Safety
"To be clear: there was no threat to the wider grid and nobody lost power," Shanks wrote in a post on X. "The generator in question is tiny especially compared to what most of us would class as a 'power plant/station'."
Energy Department and Embassy Response
A spokesperson for Britain's energy department said there was no risk to the wider system, adding that the country had a "highly resilient" energy network.
The Iranian embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Kate Holton, writing by Sam Tabahriti, editing by Paul Sandle)
