FBI Director Kash Patel Hacked by Pro-Iranian Group as Personal Photos Appear Online
A pro-Iranian hacking collective claims to have breached FBI Director Kash Patel’s account, revealing personal images and files online. The leak exposed a collection of years-old photographs, including a professional resume, and other private documents, some of which date back over a decade.
In a message posted on Friday, the hacker group Handala stated, “Kash Patel, the current head of the FBI, who once saw his name displayed with pride on the agency’s headquarters, will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims.”
The FBI responded by stating, “We are aware of malicious actors targeting Director Patel’s personal email information and have implemented measures to address the risks posed by this activity.” The bureau further noted, “The data in question is historical and does not include any classified government information.”
A Department of Justice official confirmed to Reuters that the materials released appeared genuine. Among the images shared were photos of Mr. Patel next to an antique sports car and another depicting him with a cigar in his mouth.
The exact timing of the breach remains unclear, but Mr. Patel was reportedly notified by the FBI in December 2024 that he had been targeted as part of an Iranian hacking operation. Handala, a pro-Iranian and pro-Palestinian hacking collective, also claimed responsibility this month for a cyber attack on Stryker, a Michigan-based medical technology firm.
The group stated that the hack was in retaliation for US strikes they claimed had killed Iranian schoolchildren. Meanwhile, other news snippets include a benefit cheat who claimed anxiety left her housebound but was later seen ziplining and surfing in Mexico, a family of a former Zutons star criticizing police over a racist attack investigation, and a man jailed after assaulting a woman in an incident witnessed by Barron Trump.
