The U.S. Secret Service has revealed the discovery of a vast and sophisticated covert communications network operating in the New York City area, one that could have potentially disrupted emergency cellular service and communications during high-profile events such as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), according to The New York Times.
The network, which spanned a 35-mile radius around UN headquarters, involved over 100,000 SIM cards and 300 servers distributed across multiple locations. Authorities warn the system had the capability to disable cell towers, effectively shutting down phone and text communication—an alarming scenario if timed with a major event like the UNGA.
“It can’t be understated what this system is capable of doing,” said Matt McCool, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s New York field office, in a statement to the Associated Press. “It could be catastrophic to the city.”
The network was uncovered during an extended investigation into anonymous threats against senior U.S. officials, including one individual with direct access to President Donald Trump, ABC News reports.
Experts believe the scale and sophistication of the operation strongly suggest state-sponsored involvement. Authorities suspect China may be behind it, with one cybersecurity expert, Anthony J. Ferrante of FTI Consulting, telling the Times: “My instinct is this is espionage.”
The Secret Service is currently analyzing the seized data and believes more U.S. officials may have been targeted. Investigators are also exploring the possibility of similar hidden operations in other cities.