German authorities announced on Monday that they had identified key leaders of an international hacker network linked to Russia and suspected of attacks on more than 600 institutions around the world, AFP and Agerpres reported. Both the American FBI and the European police agency Europol are involved in the investigation.

The network is suspected of a large-scale attack on the British healthcare system in 2017, which was followed by other attacks on numerous companies and institutions around the world. In Germany, victims in 2020 included Düsseldorf University Hospital and major media group Funke.

After several years of investigation, last week investigators conducted searches in Germany and Ukraine, according to a statement from the judicial police of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Authorities have issued arrest warrants for three key suspects in the group, who are said to have “ties to Russia” and are now “wanted around the world.”

The Dutch and Ukrainian police also took part in the operation.

Ransomware attacks

The hacking network, which identifies itself under several names, including “Indrik Spider” or “DoppelSpider,” is accused of “blackmail and computer sabotage” to extort large sums of money from victims of ransomware attacks.

Numerous German websites, including those of some airlines, have been hacked in recent months. The perpetrators are suspected to be Russian groups, in the context of which tensions in relations with Moscow have reached their highest level since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began last year.

In 2015, Germany was the target of an attack, also attributed to Russia, targeting the Bundestag and the offices of then-Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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