Hackers took control of a FoxNews.com Twitter account on Monday and sent six false tweets saying that US President Barack Obama had been shot dead, prompting an investigation by the US Secret Service.
“Hackers sent out several malicious and false tweets that President Obama had been assassinated,” Foxnews.com said in a statement about the latest in a wave of high-profile cybersecurity breaches around the world. “Those reports are incorrect, of course, and the president is spending the July 4 holiday with his family.”
The media outlet, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, said the incident was being checked.
“The hacking is being investigated, and FoxNews.com regrets any distress the false tweets may have created,” it said.
Obama celebrated the July 4 Independence holiday with his family at the White House and hosted military families to watch July 4 fireworks in the evening.
The White House declined to comment. The Secret Service, which is charged with protecting the president, said it was looking into the incident.
“The Secret Service is investigating the matter and will conduct the appropriate follow-up,” spokesman George Ogilvie said.
The first hacked tweet appeared at about 2am and said: “@BarackObama has just passed. The President is dead. A sad 4th of July, indeed. President Barack Obama is dead.”
The next one, -“@Barack-Obama has just passed. Nearly 45 minutes ago, he was shot twice in the lower pelvic area and in the neck; shooter unknown. Bled out.”
The false tweets were removed around noon yesterday, a Fox News spokeswoman said, after Twitter suspended the account.
Fox News Digital vice president and general manager Jeff Misenti said FoxNews.com was working with Twitter to address the situation as quickly as possible.
A group calling itself The ScriptKiddies claimed responsibility for sending the tweets — including “#ObamaDead, it’s a sad 4th of July” — from the “FoxNewspolitics” news feed before Twitter suspended its access.
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