UAE responsible for cyberattack on Qatar, confirm US officials

The Qatari interior ministry held a press conference yesterday to discuss the latest developments in the hacking of the Qatar News Agency (QNA) website and the publication of fabricated remarks attributed to Qatar Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani.

US officials have confirmed reports that the UAE is responsible for the cyberattack on QNA, which led to the current Gulf crisis.

Both the Washington Post and NBC News quoted US intelligence officials as saying the UAE arranged for Qatari media to be hacked.

Read: UAE denies hacking Qatar news portal

The Post reported on Sunday that information from US intelligence officials revealed that senior UAE government officials discussed the planned hacks on 23 May, the day before the hacking occurred.

On 23 May cyber pirates hacked QNA and published fabricated statements by Sheikh Al-Thani.

The FBI and the National Crime Enforcement Agency have both been part of investigations into the attack.