Jaguar Land Rover cyber-attack that cost up to £2.1bn was state-sponsored, former armed forces minister admits

Al Carns told a Chatham House audience in July: 'We know the Jaguar Land Rover attack was state-sponsored.' His comments have only now emerged publicly. Carns argues that an attack of such magnitude could scarcely occur without the knowledge of the host state. A June investigation tied the hack to a Russian hacking group, yet the Government continues to decline to name those responsible.

Carns acknowledges his claim drew on no official Ministry of Defence assessment.

Production lines were shut for five weeks, hitting around 5,000 dealers, garages and suppliers.

It was the costliest cyber-attack in British history, putting roughly 200,000 jobs at risk.