Cyber Incident Victim: City of Braham
Date:
Jul 2026
Location:
United States of America
Summary
The City of Braham experienced a cyberattack that temporarily shut down its water plant by disabling computerized operating controls, though the facility suffered no physical damage and water quality remained safe. Officials said the attack was part of a broader effort that hit at least four other Minnesota communities, including South St. Paul, Plymouth, and Maple Plain, where similar intrusions affected automated controls but were mitigated through manual procedures to keep water and wastewater services operational. State cybersecurity teams are assisting with threat assessment, information sharing, and remediation while the source of the attack remains under investigation.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 0 motives | 1 technique |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
At approximately 9:30 a.m. on Monday, July 27 2026, the City of Braham reported that its water treatment plant was offline for an unknown reason, prompting crews to begin troubleshooting. A few hours later city officials issued an update stating that the outage resulted from a malicious cyber‑attack targeting the computerized operating systems of the plant by unknown actors. The attack disabled the operating controls, which in turn shut down the well and the water treatment process, though officials emphasized that no physical damage occurred to the facility and that water quality and safety remained unaffected. Braham’s public works team quickly identified the issue and mediated the cause, restoring the plant to operation later that morning. Initially residents were asked to limit water use due to a limited supply in the city’s water tower, but once the system was back online officials advised that normal water consumption could resume, noting that the municipal water continued to be filtered and treated as expected.
In the same timeframe, officials in South St. Paul reported a cybersecurity incident affecting technology used for parts of the city’s water utility system, noting that while certain automated controls were impacted, contingency procedures allowed public works staff to maintain normal water and wastewater operations, with drinking water remaining safe and no action required from residents. Plymouth officials described an issue that began late Sunday affecting communications at two water towers and multiple lift stations, which they believed was caused by a cyberattack; they confirmed that water levels and quality were unaffected, that the water was safe, and that crews continued operating normally through manual procedures. Maple Plain officials identified a cybersecurity incident involving the city’s water utility technology early Monday, stating that certain automated control functions were affected but that city workers were able to maintain normal operations. Across these communities, officials coordinated with state and federal agencies, with Minnesota IT Services providing cybersecurity and technical support to assess potential impacts, share threat information, and assist with response and remediation efforts while the investigation continued.
The incident added to a pattern of recent cyberattacks on Minnesota local governments, including the city of St. Paul in 2025 and Winona County earlier in 2026, as well as affecting some school districts. Officials emphasized that the attacks did not alter physical infrastructure or compromise water safety, and that response efforts focused on restoring automated functions, maintaining service continuity, and investigating the source of the attacks. No further details about the attackers or their motives were disclosed in the available reports.