‘Not a system glitch’: Cyber attack in Saint Paul, Minnesota under investigation

The city of St. Paul has become the latest target of a cyber attack targeting essential systems and digital services over the weekend. In response, the city’s IT systems were shut down on July 28 to isolate the city’s infrastructure from potential damage, according to Mayor Melvin Carter.

“This was not a system glitch or technical error. This was a deliberate, coordinated digital attack carried out by a sophisticated external actor intentionally and criminally targeting our city’s information infrastructure,” Carter said at a news conference Tuesday, July 29.

An investigation is underway to address the ongoing threat, and Carter has declared a state of emergency in St. Paul. Officials are collaborating with local, state, and national law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, to investigate the source and extent of the breach, according to the mayor’s office.

The mayor did not speculate on the motive for the attack and didn’t know if any ransom was being demanded.

Gov. Tim Walz activates Minnesota National Guard

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz issued an executive order to ensure that the state’s National Guard cyber unit would determine what data, if any, had been stolen and to ultimately secure and restore the city’s systems.

“We are committed to working alongside the City of Saint Paul to restore cybersecurity as quickly as possible,” Walz said in a news release from the governor’s office on July 29.

He added that experts aim to “resolve the situation and mitigate lasting impacts. Above all, we are committed to protecting the safety and security of the people of Saint Paul.”

Both the magnitude and complexity of the breach have exceeded the city’s response capacity, according to the governor’s office.

WiFi shut down at city libraries, recreation centers

Wireless internet is temporarily unavailable at St. Paul libraries, recreation centers and other city buildings that remain open.

“We recognize that these outages have created inconveniences for residents and city staff alike. While these disruptions are difficult, they are necessary steps to limit exposure, preserve system integrity, and protect sensitive information as our information and recovery efforts continue,” Carter added.Although the wireless internet is down across all city buildings, emergency services and 911 dispatch remain intact, according to officials.