Four arrested for M&S and Co-op cyber-attacks

Four people have been arrested in connection with the cyber-attacks on M&S and the Co-op. The National Crime Agency (NCA) reported that a 20-year-old woman was arrested in Staffordshire, while three males aged between 17 and 19 were detained in London and the West Midlands. They were apprehended for Computer Misuse Act offences, blackmail, money laundering, and participating in organized crime activities. The arrests took place at their homes early on Thursday, with electronic devices seized by the police. One suspect is from Latvia, and the others are from the UK.

Paul Foster, head of the NCA's National Cyber Crime Unit, described the arrests as a significant step in the investigation. He stated that efforts are ongoing, in collaboration with partners in the UK and abroad, to identify and bring the responsible individuals to justice. The cyber-attacks, which started in mid-April, have caused extensive disruptions for both retailers. Co-op faced empty shelves for weeks, while M&S anticipates operational impacts until late July, with some IT systems not fully functional until October or November. The M&S chairman informed MPs that the attack seemed like an attempt to harm the business, estimating a £300m loss in profits. Harrods also experienced a less impactful attack.

According to the source: BBC.