St. Paul Cyberattack Prompts Guard, Emergency Response

A major cyberattack began on July 25 in St. Paul, Minnesota, prompting Governor Tim Walz to declare a state of emergency and deploy the Minnesota National Guard's cyber unit as the breach overwhelmed local capabilities. The city shut down most digital infrastructure to contain the threat, resulting in disruptions to online payments, library internet, and network access in city buildings, though emergency services like 911 remain fully operational. Mayor Melvin Carter confirmed the attack was perpetrated by a sophisticated external actor. The FBI and private cybersecurity firms are now assisting in the investigation. Officials have not revealed whether a ransom was demanded, and the scope of potential data theft, particularly involving city employees, is under review. Residents have been advised to take precautions, and full restoration of systems may require extensive rebuilding.