Harrods, the world-famous luxury department store, has confirmed it was targeted by a cyber attack earlier today, forcing it to restrict internet access across its operations.
UK News in Pictures has learned that attempts were made to gain unauthorised access to the retailer’s systems, leading to some customers experiencing payment issues at the iconic Knightsbridge store. This attack follows similar incidents impacting Marks & Spencer and the Co-op Group in recent days, highlighting a worrying trend for UK retailers.
A Harrods spokesperson said:
“We recently experienced attempts to gain unauthorised access to some of our systems.
Our seasoned IT security team immediately took proactive steps to keep systems safe, and as a result, we have restricted internet access at our sites today.”
Despite the disruption, Harrods reassured customers that all of its locations — including the flagship Knightsbridge store, H Beauty branches, and airport stores — remain open for business. Online shopping through Harrods.com is also still operating normally.
The full scope of the breach remains unclear as of Thursday evening. However, reports from affected customers suggest some were unable to complete purchases due to system disruptions earlier in the day.
Owned by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, Harrods is now working with cybersecurity specialists to investigate and address the breach.
The attack comes as cybersecurity risks continue to escalate for major consumer-facing businesses. Just this week, Marks & Spencer reported prolonged disruptions to its online ordering system due to another cyber incident.
Retailers are under growing pressure to strengthen their digital defenses amid increasingly sophisticated threats targeting sensitive customer data and critical systems.
