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Tribune News Network
Doha
An inquiry has begun into the hacking of the official website of Qatar News Agency (QNA) and those responsible for the unprecedented security breach will be traced and prosecuted, the Government Communication Office said on Wednesday.
"The website of Qatar News Agency, which is the government news agency, has been hacked by an unknown entity. A false statement attributed to the Emir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani has been published," the Government Communication Office said, adding that"the stories were completely untrue, and had no basis whatsoever".
Director of the Government Communications Office Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed al Thani confirmed that investigation into this matter is under way.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also denied issuance of any remarks by Foreign Minister HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said the remarks attributed to the Foreign Minister on QNA's Twitter account are fabricated.
An official source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the QNA website was hacked at 12:14 am on Wednesday morning and false and unfounded news has been posted on it, falsely attributing it to the Emir.
The website was brought under control four hours of after the hacking.
However, there are some attempts made to hack the social media accounts of the QNA, which are being continuously resisted.
"The despicable goals of the perpetrators or the instigators behind this malicious electronic crime are not known," the official said.
The ministry said it was astonished that despite a statement by the Government Communication Office explaining that the website was hacked and denouncing the false statements, some media outlets and satellite channels continued to circulate and comment on these false news.
He said it is clear that this shameful cybercrime was instigated and perpetrated with malicious intent.
THE official said that the cybercrime is being investigated and several brotherly and friendly countries have expressed their willingness to participate in the investigation.
All necessary legal measures and procedures to prosecute the hackers will take place, and the findings of the investigation will be published once complete.
Meanwhile, the Qatar News Agency has temporarily suspended the services of its official website as well as social networking platforms (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and others).
It said QNA will provide its services to subscribers only.
The suspension is part of efforts to allow competent authorities in Qatar to investigate the hacking.
QNA offered apology to the users of the website for the temporary suspension, and pledged that its services will be restored as soon as possible.
