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Russian man linked to fatal London hospitals cyber attack arrested by police
Overview
German and Japanese authorities have detained a 28-year-old Russian man, identified as Vladimir K., who is accused of being a core member of the Qilin cyber-crime gang. The gang is linked to a 2024 ransomware attack on London pathology provider Synnovis, which disrupted hospital services and contributed to a patient's death. German police are including the Synnovis incident in their ongoing investigations, while British police examine whether the inquiry could lead to an unlawful killing case.
Key points
- A 28-year-old Russian man named Vladimir K. has been detained by authorities after being arrested in Japan in May during a holiday.
- He is accused of being a core member of the Qilin cyber-crime gang, which allegedly hacked over 4,000 organisations and extorted more than $140m.
- The Qilin gang targeted blood testing company Synnovis in June 2024, causing major disruptions across London hospitals and contributing to a patient's unexpected death.
- German police are incorporating the Synnovis hack into their investigation, while British police explore potential unlawful killing charges related to the incident.
- The hackers published stolen private data online after a ransom was refused, with criminals previously claiming the attack was to protest the UK's stance on the Russia-Ukraine war.