Scattered Spider-Linked Teenagers Plead Not Guilty to Transport for London Cyberattack
Two British teenagers, Thalha Jubair and Owen Flowers, have pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a cyberattack on Transport for London (TfL) in August 2024. The attack, attributed to the Scattered Spider hacking collective, caused significant disruption to TfL's online services and internal systems, impacting the agency's ability to process refunds and initially believed not to have compromised customer data. However, a later update from TfL confirmed that customer information, including names, addresses, and contact details, was exposed during the breach. Both suspects were arrested by the UK National Crime Agency and City of London Police, and the charges they face are among the most severe under English law for cyber offenses, carrying a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
In addition to the TfL incident, Owen Flowers faces further charges for allegedly conspiring to attack the networks of SSM Health Care Corporation and Sutter Health in the United States, while Thalha Jubair is also charged with refusing to provide device passcodes to investigators. The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed a complaint against Jubair for related computer crimes. The case highlights the international scope of the investigation and the serious legal consequences for those accused of high-impact cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure and healthcare organizations.
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Nov 21, 2025
Two suspects plead not guilty in TfL cyberattack case
Two alleged members of the Scattered Spider cybercrime group pleaded not guilty to charges tied to the cyberattack on Transport for London. Multiple outlets reported the court development as the latest major step in the case.
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