France plans to seek European sanctions against those responsible for a cyberattack that disrupted refrigeration systems at around 200 supermarket stores.
PARIS: France has accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of carrying out a cyberattack that disrupted refrigeration systems at hundreds of supermarkets, causing millions of euros in losses through spoiled fresh and frozen food.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the attack was carried out by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, describing it as exceptional in both scale and aggression. Speaking at a news conference, he announced that France would seek European-level sanctions against all those found responsible.
The cyberattack took place last month and targeted refrigeration and freezer systems at several French supermarket chains. According to available information, hackers gained control of software used to regulate refrigeration temperatures on Oct. 11, affecting around 200 stores.
In some locations, refrigerator temperatures reportedly climbed to as high as 50 degrees Celsius overnight, resulting in the spoilage of fresh and frozen food products. The financial losses were estimated at millions of euros.
The incident has raised concerns about the vulnerability of essential commercial infrastructure to cyberattacks, particularly systems responsible for maintaining food safety and preserving perishable goods.
The French incident was followed by similar cyberattacks targeting supermarkets in seven other European countries last week. Dozens of stores were reportedly affected, although authorities have not established whether those incidents were connected to the attack in France.
Meanwhile, the Paris prosecutor’s office announced on Monday that it had opened an investigation into the head of a cyber unit linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and two of his deputy officers.
The investigation comes as French authorities pursue accountability over the supermarket attack and consider measures at the European level. Barrot’s announcement signals France’s intention to seek sanctions against individuals found responsible for the operation.
However, questions remain over the extent of the alleged operation and whether the incidents reported in other European countries were part of a coordinated campaign.
The allegations against Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and the proposed European sanctions mark a further development in France’s response to cyber threats targeting commercial infrastructure.
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