Woman and three teenagers arrested over M&S, Co-op and Harrods cyber attacks

Four radical person been arrested by constabulary investigating cyber attacks targeting M&S, Co-op and Harrods.

A 20-year-old pistillate and 2 males, some aged 19, and different aged 17, were detained successful London and the West Midlands arsenic portion of a National Crime Agency (NCA) operation.

They were arrested astatine their homes connected suspicion of Computer Misuse Act offences, blackmail, wealth laundering and participating successful the activities of an organised transgression group.

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Electronic devices were seized from the suspects and are presently being analysed by forensic experts.

M&S halted online orders, and shelves were bare successful shops aft the cyber onslaught connected the retailer earlier this year.

The archetypal hack into the retailer's systems took spot successful April done "sophisticated impersonation" involving a 3rd party.

Disruption is expected to proceed astatine the retailer until the extremity of this month.

The Co-op and Harrods were besides subsequently targeted by hackers.

Paul Foster, caput of the NCA's National cybercrime portion described the arrests arsenic a "significant step" successful their investigation, which remains "one of the agency's highest priorities".

He added: "Our enactment continues, alongside partners successful the UK and overseas, to guarantee those liable are identified and brought to justice."

The arrests, which took spot aboriginal connected Thursday morning, were supported by officers from the West Midlands determination organised transgression portion and the East Midlands peculiar operations unit.

Earlier this week, the president of M&S told MPs that the hack had been "traumatic" and similar an "out-of-body experience".

Archie Norman, however, refused to beryllium drawn connected whether the retailer had paid immoderate ransom.

"We are not discussing immoderate of the details of our enactment with the menace actor, including this subject, but that taxable is afloat shared with the NCA," helium said.

It is estimated that the cyber onslaught volition cost M&S up to £300m this year.

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Days aft M&S was attacked, the Co-op was targeted and forced to unopen down immoderate interior systems.

Harrods was past hacked, and besides had to unopen immoderate systems contempt its website and shops continuing to operate.

Of those arrested, the 17-year-old British antheral and a 19-year-old Latvian antheral are from the West Midlands.

Another 19-year-old antheral is from London and the pistillate from Staffordshire.

An M&S spokesperson said: "We invited this improvement and convey the NCA for its diligent enactment connected this incident."

A Co-op typical commented: "Hacking is not a victimless crime. Throughout this period, we person engaged afloat with the NCA, and applicable authorities and are pleased connected behalf of our members to spot this had led to these arrests today."