US Secret Service Busts Telecom Threat Near UN Assembly Capable Of Crashing Cell Service

Last Updated:September 23, 2025, 19:19 IST

The agency said the equipment, found within a 35-mile radius of the UN headquarters, was capable of carrying out various telecommunications attacks

Photos shared by the agency on X showed numerous SIM cards wired into complex telecommunication hardware. (Image via X/@SecretService)

The United States Secret Service has dismantled a large-scale telecom threat ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, seizing more than 100,000 SIM cards and over 300 SIM servers that officials say had the potential to crash the city’s cellular network.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the agency said the equipment, found within a 35-mile (56-kilometre) radius of the UN headquarters, was capable of carrying out various telecommunications attacks — including disabling cell towers, enabling denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, and facilitating anonymous and encrypted communications.

The seized devices, described as “SIM servers," were linked to a broader network believed to be operated by or connected to “nation-state" actors.

The Secret Service confirmed that the disruption came ahead of the arrival of global leaders for the annual UN summit and was intended to neutralise a threat to public safety and national security.

Photos shared by the agency on X showed numerous SIM cards wired into complex telecommunication hardware.

The Secret Service revealed that these devices could have enabled anonymous telephonic threats and posed a serious risk to critical infrastructure.

“In addition to carrying out anonymous telephonic threats, these devices could be used to conduct a wide range of telecommunications attacks. This includes disabling cell phone towers, enabling denial of services attacks and facilitating anonymous, encrypted communication between potential threat actors and criminal enterprises," the agency said.

The Secret Service acted swiftly given the “timing, location, and potential for significant disruption" ahead of the UN General Assembly, which began on Tuesday. US President Donald Trump was scheduled to speak at the summit on its opening day.

The operation was led by the Secret Service’s newly formed Advanced Threat Interdiction Unit, which focuses on identifying and dismantling imminent threats to high-level protectees.

While the investigation is ongoing, early forensic analysis reportedly points to communications between suspected nation-state threat actors and individuals already known to federal law enforcement agencies.

The agency has not yet revealed the specific countries or groups suspected to be behind the network.

(With inputs from agencies)

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