Two teenage suspected Scattered Spider members charged in UK over TfL hack The Record from Recorded Future News

pppLeadershipppCybercrimeppNationstatepp Influence Operations ppTechnologyppCyber DailyppClick Here Podcastpp Free Newsletterpp Two suspected members of the Scattered Spider cybercrime collective have been arrested and charged in the United Kingdom following an investigation into the hack of Transport for London TfL last year pp The National Crime Agency NCA announced on Thursday that Thalha Jubair 19 from East London and Owen Flowers 18 from Walsall had been arrested at their homes at lunchtime on Tuesday pp The Crown Prosecution Service authorized charges against both men on Wednesday night under the Computer Misuse Act alleging they conspired to commit unauthorized acts against TfL which was hacked in August 2024 Flowers had initially been arrested over the the transit agency attack in September 2024 but released on bail pp The NCA said its officers also discovered additional potential evidence that Flowers had been involved in attacks against US healthcare companies following his arrest Flowers faces two additional charges of conspiring with others to infiltrate and damage the networks of SSM Health Care Corporation and attempting to do the same to Sutter Health pp Jubair faces an additional charge for refusing to provide investigators with passcodes to access devices seized from him The US Department of Justice also unsealed a complaint against Jubair on Thursday accusing him of computer crimes pp The men are set to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court at 2 pm on Thursday In England and Wales criminal cases begin with a first hearing in a magistrates court where it is decided whether the case will proceed to a Crown Court for a jury trial required for all cases where the sentence could exceed 12 months pp The specific charges against both men are conspiracy to commit an unauthorised act in relation to a computer causing creating risk of serious damage to human welfarenational security the maximum sentence for which is life imprisonment pp Magistrates courts also decide whether a defendant can be released on bail Prosecutors are seeking to have both men remanded in custody until they can face trial pp Paul Foster the head of the NCAs National Cyber Crime Unit said Todays 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 UKs critical national infrastructure pp It follows the NCA warning of an increasing threat from Englishspeaking cybercriminal groups including the loose collective tracked as Scattered Spider which has been associated with a range of attacks in both Britain and the United States pp The NCA UK policing and our international partners including the FBI are collectively committed to identifying offenders within these networks and ensuring they face justice said Foster pp Hannah Von Dadelszen the CPS chief prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service said Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings pp The charges come as the NCAs cybercrime unit is understood to be busier than ever in investigating a range of cases These include the hack against TfL the Legal Aid Agency two incidents impacting the National Health Service and attacks on three retailers Marks Spencer the Coop and the Londonbased luxury store Harrods pp Contempt of court laws prohibit prejudicing a jury trial by suggesting suspects guilt or innocence publishing details regarding their past convictions or speculating about the character of the defendants pp Editors note Following publication both defendants were remanded in custody to appear at Southwark Crown Court on October 16 ppAlexander Martinppis the UK Editor for Recorded Future News He was previously a technology reporter for Sky News and is also a fellow at the European Cyber Conflict Research InitiativeppPrivacyppAboutppContact Uspp Copyright 2025 The Record from Recorded Future Newsp