Russian crime group behind London hospitals cyber-attack, says expert

Hospitals declared a critical incident after the attack and have cancelled operations and tests and been unable to carry out blood transfusions. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

A group of Russian cybercriminals is behind the ransomware attack that halted operations and tests in major London NHS hospitals, the former chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre has said.

Ciaran Martin said the attack on the pathology services firm Synnovis had led to a “severe reduction in capacity” and was a “very, very serious incident”.