Two young men from the UK are set to stand trial after entering not-guilty pleas to a series of serious cybercrime allegations connected to a major breach affecting Transport for London in 2024. The case, which involves claims of involvement in the Scattered Spider cybercrime network, has become one of the most high-profile cybersecurity prosecutions currently moving through the UK courts.
Allegations Stemming From 2024
The accusations relate to a cyber incident detected by TfL in August 2024, which disrupted a wide range of digital services. Although transport operations were not halted, online platforms, internal systems, traffic-related technology, and customer service tools experienced prolonged outages. Initial assessments suggested customer information had not been accessed, but later investigations confirmed that personal details such as names, addresses, and contact information were exposed.
Charges Faced by the Defendants
Nineteen-year-old Thalha Jubair from east London and eighteen-year-old Owen Flowers from Walsall were arrested at their homes in September 2024 following coordinated operations by the National Crime Agency and the City of London Police. Both have now appeared at Southwark Crown Court, where they denied charges involving unauthorized access to computer systems and accusations that their actions risked causing serious harm to public welfare.
Prosecutors have brought some of the most severe cyber-related charges available under UK law, reflecting the scale of disruption and the alleged intent or recklessness behind the attack. These charges can carry exceptionally lengthy sentences if proven.
Additional Charges in the US
Authorities in the United States have also linked the investigation to wider activity attributed to the Scattered Spider group. Flowers faces further accusations of conspiring to target two major American healthcare organizations, SSM Health and Sutter Health. Jubair, meanwhile, faces a separate charge in the UK for allegedly refusing to provide investigators with device passcodes during a search in 2025.
In parallel, the U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed its own case against Jubair, alleging involvement in extensive schemes to infiltrate networks, extort organizations, and launder proceeds. These claims span more than a hundred intrusions affecting dozens of American entities and are linked to ransom payments totaling more than $115 million.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
Both defendants remain in custody at this time. A pre-trial hearing and a provisional trial date have already been scheduled, with the court preparing for what is expected to be a complex set of proceedings due to the scale of the allegations and the international scope of the investigation.
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