Secret Service Uncovers Massive Telecom Threat During U.N. General Assembly

Tue Oct 21 2025 02:32:09 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As world leaders gather in New York for the U.N. General Assembly, the Secret Service has revealed the dismantling of a significant telecom network that could have disrupted emergency services and daily communications.

In a significant operation, the U.S. Secret Service has dismantled a clandestine telecom network near New York. This system, which featured over 300 SIM servers and possessed the capacity to flood cellular networks with chaos, could have impacted emergency services at a critical time, underscoring the risks posed to urban communications infrastructure during major events. Despite no credible threats identified targeting the U.N. General Assembly, officials caution about the implications of such networks potentially being operated by nation-state actors.

NEW YORK (PulseWire) — As around 150 world leaders arrive in Manhattan for the U.N. General Assembly, the U.S. Secret Service has revealed they successfully dismantled a hidden telecommunications network believed capable of causing widespread chaos by jamming cellular services.

This extensive system comprised more than 300 SIM servers, equipped with over 100,000 SIM cards located within 35 miles of the U.N. The threat posed by this operation was significant, potentially crippling critical communication lines in New York, a city heavily reliant on connectivity for routine and emergency management.

According to officials, this takedown highlights a growing trend of risks targeting the unseen infrastructures that underpin major urban centers. Matt McCool, the Secret Service's New York field office agent in charge, emphasized the potential for absolute communication blackouts during crucial events.

“It can’t be understated what this system is capable of doing. It can take down cell towers, and if coordinated with other attacks during the U.N. events, the fallout could be catastrophic,” he stated.

This discovery was made as part of a wider inquiry into telecommunications threats aimed at high-profile government officials, indicating the possibility of collaboration between nation-state actors and organized crime.

Agents discovered elaborate setups at multiple locations, with rows of powerful servers and active SIM cards indicating the operation was sophisticated and well-financed. The network had the potential to send millions of text messages a minute, raising concern over the significant disruption it could create.

While no direct plots targeting the General Assembly were identified, officials remain cautious about the existing threats and the likelihood of similar networks operating elsewhere in the U.S.

The investigation continues as authorities analyze the potentially monumental volume of communications this network could have facilitated.