Iranian hackers shut down UK power plant for four days

Iranian-linked hackers disrupted operations at a small-scale British power plant for four full days in July 2026, in an attack described by security officials as unprecedented against UK energy infrastructure. The facility’s exact location remains undisclosed for national security reasons, but authorities confirmed it was a minor generator whose shutdown did not affect the broader power grid or national energy supply.

The incident, which came to light in late August, unfolded during the same period as a wave of cyberattacks on water treatment systems across 12 U.S. states. Those parallel operations prompted heightened concern at the White House. In the UK, the breach was reported to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the public arm of GCHQ responsible for defending critical infrastructure. In response, the government convened briefings for chief executives of major power companies and issued formal guidance outlining protective measures and recommended next steps for businesses.

Officials emphasized the targeted plant was not among the nation’s largest energy sites. A government source stated the facility fell well below legal notification thresholds for important...