France summons Iran ambassador after vowing to 'punish' fridge hackers

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Membership today.

Already a member? Log in

France has vowed to “punish” those responsible for a wave of cyber attacks that hit supermarkets across the country in October.

Hackers gained control of the software that regulated the temperatures of commercial fridges and freezers in hundreds of retailers last month, forcing some units to warm to 50C overnight.

The attacks spoiled fresh and frozen food estimated to be worth millions of euros.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on Monday that Iran ’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps was responsible for the attack – a claim Tehran denies and dubbed “baseless and hostile”.

On Tuesday morning, France ’s foreign ministry said in a statement that it had summoned Iran’s ambassador following the accusation.

Speaking to local reporters, Mr Barrot said France would push for EU sanctions in response to what he called an "attack of unprecedented scale and aggression in our country".

He warned that France could respond with further action that would not be disclosed.

“We will take whatever measures are necessary, including some that we will not publicly, if we judge them proportionate and necessary to deter any new attacks and punish those responsible for this unacceptable aggression,” Mr Barrot said on France Info television.

He added that France's cyber defence doctrine provided authorities with a range of options.

The supermarket hacks were among the most disruptive cyberattacks since the Iran war began in February, a conflict marked by sporadic episodes of suspected digital sabotage.

Other incidents have included hacks targeting the Los Angeles transit system in March and US water treatment plants in July.

Iran routinely denies carrying out malicious cyber operations. Relations between the two countries have been ​strained for years – largely due to Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, ‌its regional activities and the detention of ⁠several French nationals.

Although ties improved after those detainees were released and France distanced itself from the US-led war on Iran, relations deteriorated again over the summer after Iran arrested and later expelled two French diplomats.

France responded by expelling Iranian diplomats. French officials say Tehran ​has become increasingly hostile towards France, notably over its support for Iranian civil society.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies