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FBI probes attacks on fiber cables in north California

Xinhua, July 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

A series of sabotage attacks on fiber optic cables in north California on the U.S. west coast have prompted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to investigate.

The latest attack in Livermore, east of San Francisco, on Tuesday cut through three underground fiber optic cables belonging to Internet providers Zayo and Level 3, leaving thousands without internet and phone services for hours.

Previously, according to FBI's San Francisco Division, 10 such incidents were reported since last year: one in Berkeley, north of San Francisco; five in Fremont and one in San Jose, of South Bay; two in Walnut Creek and one in Alamo, of East Bay.

FBI San Francisco Division spokesman Greg Wuthrich told Xinhua that "at this point in the investigation, we can't conclude if they have something to do with each other."

The bureau is not ruling out the possibility that some of the attacks could have been "inside job." It issued a statement in June calling for the public to be on the lookout for anything suspicious, including someone posing as telecommunications maintenance workers.

Another reason authorities may suspect a disgruntled internet service provider employee could be the culprit is that the cables are covered by a tough outer layer that requires especial tools to cut through.

The spate of vandalism has raised concern about the vulnerability of internet infrastructure. The cables are often located in manholes dug in isolated areas that lack video security and are relatively easy to break into.

Because the attacks happened in different jurisdictions, Wuthrich explained, the FBI decided to get involved and investigate. "Once we find out who did it, we will determine the punishment, depending on the circumstances of the attack."

California has seen plenty of attacks on internet infrastructure for a few years. In 2009, cables were cut in different counties, affecting more than 50,000 people. In 2013, suspects cut cables and set fire to structures in San Jose, causing a loss of 15 million U.S. dollars. Endite