Thalha Jubair, 19, was arrested on Tuesday (16th September) along with Owen Flowers, 18, from Walsall, reports Madison Yarbrough
Two teenagers have been charged for a cyber attack against Transport for London (TfL).
Thalha Jubair, 19, from East London, and Owen Flowers, 18, from Walsall, West Midlands, were arrested at their home addresses on Tuesday (16th September) by the National Crime Agency and City of London Police.
TfL had their network hacked into on 31st August, 2024. Investigators believe the two to be part of the online criminal collective known as Scattered Spider.
The two appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court today (18th September) where the Crown Prosecution Service authorised the charge of co-conspiracy to infiltrate the TfL network, under the Computer Misuse Act.
When Flowers was arrested initially on the 6th of September 2024 the NCA officers found evidence of a potential offence against US healthcare companies SSM Health Care Corporation and Sutter Health. Both networks were attempted to be infiltrated. Flowers conspired with others to damage these networks.
Additionally, Jubair failed to disclose the passwords for devices seized from him and was thus charged.
Deputy Director Paul Foster, head of the NCA’s National Cyber Crime Unit, said: “Today’s charges are a key step in what has been a lengthy and complex investigation.
“This attack caused significant disruption and millions in losses to TfL, part of the UK’s critical national infrastructure.
“Earlier this year, the NCA warned of an increase in the threat from cyber criminals based in the UK and other English-speaking countries, of which Scattered Spider is a clear example.”
Accompanied by the NCA was the West Midlands Regional Organised Crime Unit and British Transport Police.
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