Investigation

Iranian hackers ‘shut down British power plant for four days’

Published

2 days ago

August 23, 2026

A small UK power generator was forced to shut down for four days after it was targeted in a cyberattack reportedly linked to Iranian hackers.

The incident, which is reported to have taken place last month, is believed to be the first time Iranian-affiliated hackers have successfully shut down a UK facility of this kind.

Sources did not name the facility, but it is understood to be a “small-scale energy generator” and the incident did not pose any risk to the wider grid, The Telegraph reports.

It is thought to have been reported to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of GCHQ, which responds to serious cyber incidents affecting UK organisations.

In response, the government issued briefings to power companies and wrote to businesses with advice.

Earlier this year, Dr Richard Horne, head of the NCSC, warned that most nationally significant cyber attacks on Britain were carried out by hostile states, including China, Iran and Russia.

He said the body dealt with around four of these attacks each week, and warned businesses to be prepared to protect themselves against cyber attacks without needing the option of paying ransoms, because the UK could be targeted “at scale” if it were to become involved in an international conflict.

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