Qatar News Agency Says Hackers Published Fake Stories

The state-run Qatar News Agency claimed hackers published fake statements attributed to the country’s leaders about sensitive regional issues on its website and Twitter account.

An article that appeared Tuesday on QNA’s website credited Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with saying Qatar had “tensions” with the Trump administration and Iran is a “big power in the stabilization of the region,” according to the BBC.

A statement from the Government Communications Office said the website had been “hacked by an unknown entity” and “a false statement attributed to His Highness has been published,” but the remarks were widely reported around the region, The New Arab reported.

The publication’s Twitter account also said Qatar was withdrawing ambassadors from some countries, credited to foreign minister Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, but Qatar government officials denied it, Al Jazeera reported.

Government officials are investigating the incidents and so far, no group has claimed responsibility.