In brief
In a critical operation, the US Secret Service uncovered a sophisticated network of telecom devices capable of crippling cellular communication in New York City, coinciding with the UN General Assembly. This disruption involved over 300 SIM servers and was traced back to potentially state-sponsored actors targeting U.S. officials, as the international meeting attracts over a hundred world leaders.
The US Secret Service disrupted a network of telecommunications devices that could have shut down cellular systems as leaders gather for the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.
The agency said on Tuesday that last month it found more than 300 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards that could have been used for telecom attacks within the area encompassing parts of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
This network had the power to disable cell phone towers and essentially shut down the cellular network in New York City, said special agent in charge Matt McCool.
The devices were discovered within 35 miles (56km) of the UN, where leaders are meeting this week.
McCool noted the scheme involved well-organised and well-funded actors linked to nation-states and organized crime, with communication directed towards criminal groups known to federal law enforcement.
The equipment could have sent mass texts to the entire US population within 12 minutes and disabled mobile towers, jeopardizing emergency services.
These devices were found in abandoned apartments across five locations, following an investigation into telephonic threats toward US officials earlier this year.
Authorities also seized cocaine, illegal firearms, computers, and communication devices during the operation as they continue to assess the full extent of the threat.
Over 100 world leaders and delegations have gathered in Midtown Manhattan for the 80th anniversary of the UN General Assembly, underscoring the critical need for heightened security measures in the area.
