Cyberattack Targets 30 Water Systems In MN Communities

A coordinated cyberattack targeted operational technology at over 30 water systems Sunday and Monday in Minnesota communities, according to state authorities.

As of Tuesday, there were no known active requests that residents modify their drinking water use, authorities said.

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Minnesota IT Services was working with federal, state, local, tribal and private partners — including the FBI and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — as it investigated the attack, according to the state agency.

"MNIT is working side by side with our partners to share intelligence, support affected communities, and help utilities restore operations safely while strengthening defenses against future attacks," Minnesota IT Services Assistant Commissioner and Minnesota Chief Information Security Officer John Israel said in a news release.

"This incident demonstrates why Minnesota has invested in strong cybersecurity capabilities and partnerships. Our response worked as intended, enabling agencies at every level of government to rapidly coordinate, contain the incident, and help prevent more serious impacts to critical services."

Among the affected communities are Plymouth, South St. Paul, Braham and Maple Plain, all of which posted on social media from official accounts about the attack.