Cyberattacks | Ransomware

Alleged Qilin Hacker Probed Over Synnovis Hospital Attack

Germany is investigating an alleged Qilin core member over the Synnovis hack that hit London hospitals and contributed to a patient’s death.

By Content Team

Oct 20, 2026

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German police have detained Vladimir K., a 28-year-old Russian national accused of being a core member of the Qilin cybercrime gang. Japanese police arrested him in May on a German warrant over a September 2024 ransomware attack on a logistics company, and Japan handed him over to Germany on October 2. German investigators are now including the 2024 Synnovis hack in their inquiry.

Qilin hit Synnovis, a blood testing company serving several London hospitals, in June 2024. The attack disrupted more than 10 000 appointments, and the delays it caused contributed to a patient’s death — reported as the first cyberattack in history directly linked to a fatality.

Qilin has allegedly hacked nearly 4 000 organizations since 2024, extorting over $140 million. Separately, British police are examining whether their own inquiry could lead to an unlawful killing case — potentially a world first in cybercrime prosecution.

Source: BBC News

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