Al-Watan newspaper confirms website hacked

ABHA – Al-Watan newspaper confirmed that its website had been hacked and false statements attributed to Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy premier and minister of interior, were posted on the website, Saudi Press Agency said. In a statement, the newspaper said the hacker posted false statements, which he attributed to the Crown Prince. These statements are baseless and untrue. The daily stressed that the reader would not be deceived by such lies and fabricated statements, as the daily relies for its official news on what is transmitted by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The website was hacked on Thursday (June 2) at 9.20 a.m. by a hostile group from outside the Kingdom. They were able to control the website for some time. During this period, they were able to publish fabricated stories including statements attributed to Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif on Decisive Storm. Thanks to Allah, specialists in the newspaper were able to restore the website and begin investigations in coordination with the authorities concerned. Al-Watan said it will publish full details of this crime, aside from what it mentioned on the social media about the hacking, when it occurred and on the false stories posted on the website. Al-Watan newspaper said its constant stand towards the issues of the region, its full support for the state’s policy and exposing those who are lying in wait to undermine the Kingdom’s security have aroused the anger of those who harbor hatred against the Kingdom and are the enemies of the nation. Therefore, they tried to hack the newspaper’s website. This will only increase the determination of the daily to defend the security of the nation and citizen and expose the external conspiracies aimed at shaking the security of the Kingdom and the whole region.