Two Teenagers Charged Over Transport for London Cyber Attack

Two teenagers have been charged in connection with a cyber attack on Transport for London last year, as part of an investigation by Britain's National Crime Agency into activity tied to the cyber-criminal group Scattered Spider.

Thalha Jubair, 19, from east London, and Owen Flowers, 18, from Walsall in the West Midlands, were arrested at their homes on Tuesday by the NCA and City of London Police. They are charged with conspiring together to commit unauthorised acts against TfL, under the Computer Misuse Act, and are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday afternoon.

Deputy Director Paul Foster, head of the NCA's National Cyber Crime Unit, said the charges mark a key step in what he described as a lengthy and complex investigation. "The attack caused significant disruption and millions in losses to TfL, part of the UK's critical national infrastructure," Foster said.

Earlier this year, the NCA warned of a rising threat from cyber criminal gangs based in the UK and other English-speaking countries, with Scattered Spider cited as an example of the broader risk to public-facing systems.

The August 31, last year attack disrupted TfL services and led to losses for the agency. The case underscores authorities' ongoing effort to safeguard critical transport networks against cyber threats, and the arrests were carried out by the NCA in partnership with City of London Police as investigators pursue further evidence. The investigation remains ongoing.