Secret Service Dismantles Major Telecom Threat Ahead of UN General Assembly

Sat Oct 18 2025 02:17:49 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a significant move, the US Secret Service has dismantled a massive hidden telecom network in New York, which posed a severe threat to communications during the UN General Assembly. With over 100,000 SIM cards involved, officials warn of potential chaos and emergency service disruption.

As nearly 150 world leaders gather in Manhattan for the UN General Assembly, the US Secret Service uncovered and dismantled a vast telecom network capable of crippling cellular communications. This operation highlights increasing risks to critical infrastructure in urban areas. Although no direct threats to the UNGA were found, experts stress the importance of vigilance in the face of such sophisticated networks.

NEW YORK (AI FlashPoint) — As close to 150 world leaders prepare to gather in Manhattan for the U.N. General Assembly, the U.S. Secret Service revealed it has dismantled a massive concealed telecom network spanning the New York area. Investigators indicated this system had the potential to cripple cell service, interfere with 911 communications, and unleash chaos at a time the city was especially vulnerable.

This extensive cache comprised over 300 SIM servers loaded with more than 100,000 SIM cards located within a 35-mile radius of the U.N. The significance of this operation underscores a notable shift in threats targeting the invisible infrastructures that underpin modern metropolitan life.

This discovery emerged from a broader Secret Service investigation into telecommunications threats aimed at high-ranking government officials. These servers functioned like banks of mock phones, capable of generating mass calls and overwhelming local networks while masking encrypted communications used by criminals.

Matt McCool, the special agent in charge of the New York field office, emphasized, The capabilities of this system cannot be understated, as it could take down cell towers and disrupt communication on a massive scale. Authorities are assessing the potential disastrous implications, especially if coupled with any ongoing events related to the UNGA.

Despite declaring this technology a serious concern, officials have yet to uncover any direct plots to disrupt the U.N. Assembly and have confirmed there are no credible threats against the city at present. However, forensic investigations are ongoing, uncovering the possibility that nation-state actors utilized this network for communication with organized crime and terrorist organizations.

Agents described this network as a highly organized enterprise, suggesting a well-funded operation costing millions to establish, with the capacity for sending up to 30 million text messages in a minute. McCool warned that this incident highlights the necessity for ongoing investigations to predict and retaliate against emerging threats to national security.

The ramifications of this network highlight increasing vulnerabilities faced by major cities, echoing fears of cellular blackouts during crises like the 9/11 attacks and the Boston Marathon bombings, where telecommunications faltered dangerously under immense strain.