The sabotage initially struck around 700 French commercial venues in early October, affecting supermarkets, slaughterhouses, butcher shops, and food-processing plants. A second wave hit over 100 European sites this month, compromising French blood bank refrigeration and prompting emergency transfers of blood supplies. Investigators tied the campaign to the unit through intrusion patterns, digital infrastructure, and Persian-language traces. The events form part of an ongoing cycle of Iran-linked disruptions that started in February, encompassing American water utilities, transit systems, and cargo ships.
Key points
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot summoned the Iranian ambassador and raised the p…: French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot summoned the Iranian ambassador and raised the prospect of European Union sanctions.
Recent cyber disruptions spread across Europe and forced French blood banks to urgently r…: Recent cyber disruptions spread across Europe and forced French blood banks to urgently relocate their blood stocks.
The refrigeration hacks belong to a wider cyber conflict active since February that previ…: The refrigeration hacks belong to a wider cyber conflict active since February that previously targeted American transit and water facilities.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
French authorities on Monday accused Iran's Revolutionary Guards of orchestrating cyberattacks that disrupted commercial refrigerators and freezers across the country, warning that Tehran of consequences.
A joint report by French intelligence and cybersecurity agencies identified Shahid Kaveh, described as a cyber offensive unit linked to the Revolutionary Guards, as being behind the hacking campaign. It also named three alleged associates — Hamid Reza Lashgarian, Mahdi Lashgarian and Reza Salarvand, Reuters reported.
French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the Iranian ambassador had been summoned to the foreign ministry. He also warned that the European Union could impose further sanctions on Iran over the attacks.
The attacks targeted hundreds of French supermarkets in early October, disrupting cold-storage systems. The report said around 700 commercial establishments across France had been targeted, with at least 15 fires breaking out as hackers increased the temperature of refrigeration units.
Most of the affected sites were supermarkets, although small butcher shops, a slaughterhouse and food-processing factories were also hit.
Appeared as vigilante hacking groups
According to the French report, the hackers operated through several front organisations posing…
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