Doha / Information Office/ 24 May

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 stated that it is clear that this shameful cybercrime was instigated and perpetrated with malicious intent.

He also said that the State of 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 the Director of the Government Communications Office, HE Sheikh Saif Bin Ahmed Al-Thani, in a statement published on Wednesday.

The Ministry's official also pointed out that this cybercrime is being investigated. He further added that several brotherly and friendly countries expressed their willingness to participate in the investigation, as part of the framework of international collaboration in the fight against cybercrimes.

All necessary legal measures and procedures to prosecute the hackers of QNA’s website will take place, and that the findings of the investigation will be published once complete.