Multiple London councils are grappling with significant disruption following an ongoing cyberattack that has forced them to shut down networks and phone lines, activating emergency response plans. The affected local government authorities include Kensington and Chelsea, Westminster City Council, and Hammersmith and Fulham, impacting essential public services across these boroughs.
Kensington and Chelsea and Westminster City Council, which operate shared IT systems, confirmed their primary focus is on "protecting systems and data, restoring systems, and maintaining critical services to the public." Hammersmith and Fulham council also acknowledged being impacted by the cyberattack, as stated on its official website.
The councils, responsible for vital public services such as housing, social services, and waste collection, have not disclosed the specific nature of the cyberattack or attributed it to any particular hacking group. They confirmed that an investigation into whether data has been compromised or stolen is currently underway.
While Kensington and Chelsea's website indicated that the "cause of the cyberattack is now established," the council stated it "will not be giving out further details of the incident at this stage" due to an ongoing investigation involving UK law enforcement agencies.
