Secret Service Thwarts Telecom Threat Near UN General Assembly

NEW YORK CITY — The U.S. Secret Service destroyed thousands of electronic devices in the New York City area that allegedly posed a threat to the city’s telecommunications network on Tuesday while the United Nations General Assembly was underway.

"Tens of thousands" of these devices were allegedly used to make multiple telecommunications-related threats towards senior government officials, according to Matt McCool, Special Agent in Charge of the Secret Service’s New York Field Office.

According to the Secret Service, the devices had the potential to disable cell phone towers and essentially shut down the cellular network in New York City.

More than 300 SIM servers and 100,000 SIM cards were discovered as part of its investigation.

“These devices were concentrated within 35 miles of the United Nations General Assembly now underway in New York City," McCool said.

"Given the timing, location and potential for significant disruption to New York telecommunications posed by these devices, the agency moved quickly to disrupt this network."

While forensic examination of these devices is ongoing, early analysis indicates cellular communications between nation-state threat actors and individuals that are known to federal law enforcement, according to the Secret Service.

“The U.S. Secret Service’s protective mission is all about prevention, and this investigation makes it clear to potential bad actors that imminent threats to our protectees will be immediately investigated, tracked down and dismantled,” said U.S. Secret Service Director Sean Curran.

An investigation remains ongoing.