Four people were arrested by police investigating cyber attacks targeting M&S, Co-OP and Harrods.
A 20 -year -old woman and two men, both 19, and another 17, were detained in London and West Midlands as part of an operation by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
They were arrested at home, suspected of offenses on the law on computer abuse, blackmail, money laundering and participation in the activities of an organized group of crimes.
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Electronic devices have been seized with suspects and are currently analyzed by forensic experts.
Ms Online commands interruptedAnd the shelves were empty in stores after the cyber attack against the retailer earlier this year.
The initial hacking of retailer systems took place in April thanks to “sophisticated identity theft” involving a third party.
The disturbance should continue at the retailer until the end of this month.
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The cooperative and Harrods was also targeted later by pirates.
Paul Foster, chief of the national cybercrime unit of NCA, described arrests as an “important step” of their investigation, which remains “one of the highest priorities of the agency”.
He added: “Our work continues, alongside partners in the United Kingdom and abroad, to ensure that the managers are identified and brought to justice.”
The arrests, which took place early Thursday morning, were supported by officers of the regional organized crime of West Midlands and the East Midlands special operations unit.
Earlier this week, the president of M&S told the deputies that the hack had been “traumatic” and as an “out of the body”.
Archie Norman, however, refused to be drawn On the question of whether the retailer had paid a ransom.
“We do not discuss any of the details of our interaction with the threat actor, including this subject, but this subject is entirely shared with the NCA,” he said.
It is estimated that the cyber attack M&S cost up to 300 million pounds sterling This year.
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Days after the attack on M&S, the The cooperative was targeted And forced to stop certain internal systems.
Harrods was then hacked and also had to close certain systems despite its website and stores which continue to operate.
Among those arrested, the 17 -year -old British man and a 19 -year -old Latvian man from West Midlands.
Another 19 -year -old man is from London and the Staffordshire woman.
A spokesperson for M&S said: “We welcome this development and thank the NCA for his work on this incident.”
A cooperative representative commented: “Piracy is not a crime without victim. Throughout this period, we were fully committed to the NCA, and the relevant authorities and we are satisfied in the name of our members to see that this had led to these arrests today. ”