Cyberattack Shuts Down UK Rail Station Wi-Fi, Displays Islamophobic Messages

British police launched an investigation into a cyberattack that displayed Islamophobic messages to passengers using Wi-Fi at major railway stations. The Wi-Fi system, managed by Telent, was taken offline. Network Rail and Telent are collaborating with law enforcement to address the issue and ensure data security.

British police have launched an investigation into a cyberattack that disrupted Wi-Fi services at major railway stations across the country, displaying Islamophobic messages to passengers.

The Wi-Fi system, overseen by communications group Telent, was swiftly taken offline after reports of terror-related messages. The incident was reported to authorities at 5:03 p.m. (1603 GMT) on September 25, with British Transport Police confirming the launch of an inquiry into the matter.

Tensions in the UK have been high, fueled by a recent wave of anti-Muslim riots after misinformation spread regarding a tragic attack on three young girls. Network Rail, which manages railway infrastructure, stated that Wi-Fi services at 19 stations, including major hubs like London Bridge, London Euston, and Manchester Piccadilly, were affected. Telent assured that no personal data was compromised and has cooperated with police.

The cyberattack involved an unauthorized change to the Network Rail landing page through a legitimate administrative account. Telent took precautionary steps by suspending all use of Global Reach services. Network Rail aims to restore Wi-Fi services by the weekend after completing security checks.

(With inputs from agencies.)