The United States Secret Service announced on Tuesday, that it had dismantled a sophisticated network of electronic devices capable of crippling New York’s telecommunications system in an attack ahead of the United Nations General Assembly.
While the agency did not identify those behind the operation, it linked the devices to “nation-state actors” and individuals already known to federal law enforcement.
According to ABC News, a law enforcement source on the investigation, reported that officials believed that the plot was connected to the Chinese government.
“The potential for disruption to our country’s telecommunications posed by this network of devices cannot be overstated,” Secret Service Director Sean Curran said.
The announcement came in a statement released shortly before President Donald Trump addressed world leaders at the UN headquarters in New York.
The Secret Service said the devices were uncovered after anonymous telephonic threats were made against senior US officials.
“In addition to carrying out anonymous telephonic threats, these devices could be used to conduct a wide range of telecommunications attacks,” the agency explained.
“This includes disabling cell phone towers, enabling denial-of-service attacks, and facilitating anonymous, encrypted communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises.”
Secret Service Special Agent Matt McCool said investigators were still working to identify those responsible and determine their intent, including whether the plot was aimed at disrupting the UN General Assembly.
“No arrests have been made so far,” he confirmed.
The agency revealed that the probe began in the spring as part of an effort to trace what it described as “fraudulent calls” to senior US officials.
The devices seized were spread across multiple sites within a 35-mile radius of the UN and included 300 computer servers and 100,000 SIM cards.
According to officials, their location and timing heightened concerns about possible large-scale disruption.
“Early analysis indicates cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement,” the agency added.
Meanwhile, New York Times reported that preliminary data from the SIM cards had established links to “at least one foreign nation” as well as to drug cartel members.
It further noted that 80 grams of cocaine and illegal firearms were also recovered at some of the locations.
