Belgium probes possible Iranian role in cyberattacks on supermarket fridges

Belgian security services see possible Iranian links

Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said the country's security services have indications of possible links between the cyberattacks on supermarket refrigeration and known Iranian actors. The federal prosecutor is continuing to examine those indications. Quintin, a member of the MR party, made the remarks in answer to a question from the Belga news agency. He said his own ministry's services had similar indications, which places Belgium in step with France.

Introducing his statement, Quintin described the official position in these words:

“We take these cyberattacks very seriously and are mobilising all necessary resources to identify the threat.”

Supermarket fridges disrupted in early November

A cyberattack disrupted the cooling installations of several Belgian supermarkets and retailers in early November 2026. Many shops had to throw away tens of thousands of euros worth of food. Temperatures in freezers and fridges rose sharply, with freezers going from minus 20 degrees to plus 70 degrees, and thousands of kilograms of food were sent for destruction. The attack reached at least eleven European countries, but Belgium was hit hardest. The sources do not name the affected supermarkets or give a total figure for the losses.

France's attribution and the Paris prosecutor

France had experienced similar incidents in October 2026. On Monday, 9 November 2026, the Paris prosecutor's office announced that hacker groups linked to Iran were behind the attacks. France had already held Iran responsible for the early November attack, which was carried out by a cyber unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. According to the reports, the hack left traces that led back to Iran.

Belgian response and open questions

Quintin said the authorities are taking the attacks seriously and are deploying the means needed to assess the threat. He also sought to calm concerns among the public and businesses.

“There is no reason to panic, but we remain particularly vigilant.”

The Belgian position so far rests on indications rather than a finding, because the federal prosecutor is still examining them. The Belga report does not say how many Belgian stores were affected beyond the word several, and it does not confirm whether the Iranian links will be proven.