Qatar to prosecute those responsible for hacking QNA website

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The State of Qatar announced that it will investigate and prosecute those responsible for the hacking of Qatar News Agency (QNA)'s website.

An official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) stated that QNA's website was hacked at 12:14am on Wednesday morning, with hackers publishing false statements attributed to HH the Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

He added that they were able to regain control of QNA's website four hours after the hacking took place, and that they continue to counter ongoing hacking attempts of QNA's social media accounts.

The official further said that it is clear this shameful cybercrime was instigated and perpetrated with malicious intent.

He also said that Qatar is surprised by the stance of some media outlets and TV channels which continued to publish and comment on the false statements, despite them having been denied by HE Sheikh Saif Bin Ahmed Al-Thani, Director of the Government Communications Office in a statement on Wednesday. The statement explained that QNA's website was hacked and false statements were attributed to HH the Emir.

MOFA's official also pointed out that a team was created to investigate the hacking crime. He added that several brotherly and friendly countries expressed their willingness to participate in the investigation, as part of the framework of international collaboration in cybercrimes.

His Excellency insisted that Qatar will take all necessary legal measures and procedures to prosecute the hackers of QNA's website, and that it will publish the findings of the investigation as soon as it is complete.

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