Hacker tried to taint Florida city’s water with caustic chemical, says sheriff

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri speaks during a news conference as Oldsmar, Florida (Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office via AP)

A hacker gained unauthorised entry to a system controlling the water treatment plant of a US city and tried to taint the water supply with a caustic chemical, officials have said.

The hacker who breached the system in the city of Oldsmar in Florida used a remote access programme shared by plant workers.