Cyberattack Disrupts Patriot Regional Dispatch Phone Lines in Multiple Towns
Summary
Officials in several Massachusetts towns say a cyberattack discovered March 31 disrupted Patriot Regional Emergency Communications Center and local non-emergency/business phone lines. 911 remained operational; officials reported no evidence private information was share
Key points
- Officials in Pepperell, Dunstable, Townsend, Ashby and Groton reported a cyberattack on the Patriot Regional Emergency Communications Center, discovered March 31, 2026.
- The attack disrupted PRECC and local police, fire and EMS non-emergency and business phone lines; 911 remained operational.
- Townsend officials said their affected lines were briefly down and have been restored; affected lines in other towns remained down at the time of reporting.
- Dunstable disconnected its system connections with PRECC and said it had no evidence its own systems were affected.
- Officials reported no evidence that private user information had been shared.
- Officials engaged outside cybersecurity specialists, insurers and state and federal law enforcement partners; the attack’s origin and type were not disclosed.
Article Details
- Victim Organization
- Patriot Regional Emergency Communications Center (PRECC) and public safety departments in Pepperell, Dunstable, Townsend, Ashby, and Groton
- Incident Type
- Cyberattack disrupting non-emergency and business phone communications
- Incident Date
- 2026-03-31
- Disclosure Date
- 2026-04-01
- Operational Impact
- Non-emergency and business phone lines for PRECC and public safety departments in multiple member towns were disrupted. Townsend’s affected lines were briefly down and have been restored; lines in other towns remained down at the time of reporting. The local 911 system was reported to remain operational. Dunstable disconnected its police and fire systems from PRECC; officials said there was no evidence that Dunstable-owned and managed systems were affected.
- Ransom Or Extortion
- Unknown
- Claim Status
- confirmed
People
Andrew MacLeanPepperell Town Administrator; said the town engaged its insurance provider and outside cybersecurity agencies to respond to and mitigate the attack.Jason SilvaDunstable Town Administrator; said the town was working with state and local partners and outside experts to investigate and mitigate the attack.
Industries
Emergency communicationsPEPPERELL — Officials in member towns of the Patriot Regional Emergency Communications Center are reporting a cyberattack that appears to have disrupted the phone communications of the regional dispatch center and thePublic safetythat appears to have disrupted the phone communications of the regional dispatch center and the public safety departments of multiple towns.