Transit Terror: LA Metro Displays Hacked to Broadcast Bomb Warning
The electronic display boards of Los Angeles’s public transit network were hacked and used to broadcast alarming messages. Instead of the usual route details and bus arrival times, the screens displayed a chilling warning: “EMERGENCY WARNING. LEAVE IMMEDIATELY. RISK OF SUICIDE BOMB.” The message sparked panic among passengers and pedestrians. The incident occurred on October 21 at bus stops along 6th Street and Vermont Avenue, and photos of the event quickly circulated across local media outlets.
An investigation revealed that the breach was carried out by a Turkish hacker group previously implicated in similar intrusions targeting public alert systems at North American airports. The on-screen message included the group’s social media alias, which allowed investigators to swiftly connect this incident with earlier ones.
According to LA Metro officials, the attackers did not gain direct access to the agency’s infrastructure. Instead, they compromised Papercast, a third-party content management platform that operates street-level digital displays and alert systems. Exploiting this breach enabled the hackers to alter the displayed content and publish threats under the guise of the transportation authority.
All unauthorized messages were promptly removed after the breach was discovered. LA Metro, in collaboration with Papercast and external cybersecurity specialists, has since launched a technical audit to determine the method of intrusion and patch the vulnerability. Officials emphasized that no passenger data or internal transit systems were affected by the attack.
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