Iran-linked hackers 'shut down' small power plant in UK; incident reported as cyberattack on critical infrastructure

Iran-linked hackers successfully shut down a small power facility in the UK for four days, as reported by the Telegraph. This incident is part of a broader pattern of cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure, with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) previously warning about increasing threats from hostile states.¹

The UK government confirmed that the attack did not compromise the wider energy system, stating, "The UK has a highly resilient energy system. We work closely with the energy sector to protect infrastructure and ensure the highest security standards." However, the specific site affected was not disclosed.

The incident coincided with a series of attacks on US water infrastructure in July, highlighting a concerning trend in cyber threats. Liberal Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller emphasized the need for urgent action, stating, "Reports that Iran-linked hackers shut down a UK power plant show the threat posed by hostile foreign powers to our national security. The Government must urgently strengthen plans to secure our energy infrastructure and protect us from attack."

The NCSC did not report any outages related to the cyberattack, but the incident has raised alarms about the vulnerability of the UK's critical infrastructure to foreign cyber threats.