Kathmandu— A small-scale British power plant was forced to shut down for four days in July following a suspected cyberattack, with UK authorities pointing to an Iranian-linked hacking group as the perpetrator. The incident comes amid heightened concerns about attacks on critical infrastructure and coincided with similar targeting of water systems in the United States. Dozens of smaller power plants contribute to the UK’s national grid, many operating intermittently, making them potential targets for disruption.

Infrastructure at Risk

The targeted facility, which was not publicly identified, was taken offline in July and prompted a response from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the public-facing branch of the Government Communications Headquarters. Emergency briefings were held for energy company executives, and guidance on bolstering security measures was distributed to businesses across the sector. The incident highlights the vulnerability of critical national infrastructure to cyberattacks, particularly smaller facilities that may have less robust defenses.

Coordinated Attacks

The UK power plant attack occurred alongside a series of cyberattacks targeting water infrastructure in the United States, affecting facilities in 12 states. Reports from CBS News indicate that over 30 community water systems were impacted, and these attacks may also be linked to Iran-backed hackers. Some US utilities experienced loss of remote control capabilities, requiring operators to manually manage systems, while hackers gained access to pumps, valves, and water pressure controls.

International Accusations

Western intelligence agencies have consistently asserted that critical national infrastructure and government bodies face ongoing threats from hackers originating in Iran, North Korea, China, and Russia. These claims are routinely denied by authorities in the accused countries. Moscow, for example, alleges that accusations of external aggression are used to justify military expansion and the development of offensive cyber capabilities.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation and work with energy companies to strengthen cybersecurity measures as threats from state-sponsored hackers persist.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.