Belgian security services have identified indications of Iranian involvement in recent cyberattacks targeting commercial refrigeration systems across Europe, Minister of the Interior and Security Jo Brouns confirmed.
The breach, which targeted commercial cooling systems, caused widespread spoilage of food stocks and forced businesses to discard inventory, according to Business AM. Belgian authorities are now investigating whether hackers linked to Iran were responsible for the sabotage, GARDEN reported.
Minister Brouns said that while the government is taking the threat seriously and deploying military intelligence resources, the situation remains under control. "There is no reason for panic, but we remain particularly vigilant," Brouns told GARDEN.
Despite the initial assessment from the Interior Ministry, the Belgian government has not yet issued a formal accusation against the Iranian state. Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib later clarified that while security services are closely monitoring the case, "the data we currently have is not sufficient to officially hold Iran responsible," as reported by Newspaper.
The cyberattacks have affected at least seventeen companies across Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, and the Netherlands, US reported. In France, the impact was more severe, affecting approximately 700 supermarkets and critical infrastructure such as blood banks.
French prosecutors have opened an investigation into a hacker group identified as Shahid Kaveh, which is suspected of having ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, according to US. Investigators in France identified specific operational patterns, including the use of Persian-language communications and IP addresses linked to Iran.
The attackers exploited outdated firmware and software in commercial refrigeration units to remotely adjust temperature settings. In some instances, the manipulated equipment overheated to the point of catching fire, Business AM reported.
Small businesses, including local butcher shops and neighborhood stores, were disproportionately affected compared to larger retail chains.
Business AM noted that similar incidents have targeted American water infrastructure, shipping vessels, and transportation networks in Los Angeles since March. The Pentagon is currently investigating whether malfunctions in refrigeration systems at U.S. military commissaries in August are linked to the same actors responsible for the European sabotage.
The hackers targeted the firmware of commercial refrigeration and freezer units. By exploiting security vulnerabilities in older models, they were able to remotely override temperature controls, leading to food spoilage and potential equipment failure.
French judicial authorities reported that investigators found evidence of Persian-language communication and IP addresses associated with Iran, which they believe point to the involvement of the state-linked hacker group Shahid Kaveh.
The Belgian judiciary is conducting further research into the digital traces left by the attackers. While the Ministry of the Interior has identified links to Iran, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintains that the evidence is not yet conclusive enough for an official state-level accusation.
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