French network TV5Monde hit by pro-Islamic State hackers

French television network TV5Monde said it had been hacked by individuals claiming to belong to the Islamic State group, bringing television broadcasts to a halt and taking over its websites and Facebook page. The hackers posted documents on TV5Monde’s Facebook page purporting to be the identity cards and CVs of relatives of French soldiers involved in anti-IS operations, along with threats against the troops. The attack began at around 10:00 pm (2000 GMT), but the global French-language broadcaster appeared to have regained control of its Facebook page by midnight and TV broadcasts by 1:00 am Thursday

We are no longer able to broadcast any of our channels. Our websites and social media sites are no longer under our control and are all displaying claims of responsibility by Islamic State.

Yves Bigot, TV5Monde’s director general

Its websites were still offline, however, displaying an “under maintenance” message to visitors. France is part of a US-led military coalition carrying out air strikes against IS in Iraq and Syria, where the jihadist group has seized swathes of territory in recent months and declared an Islamic “caliphate”. Paris-based TV5Monde is broadcast in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Soldiers of France, stay away from the Islamic State! You have the chance to save your families, take advantage of it. The CyberCaliphate continues its cyberjihad against the enemies of Islamic State.

Messages posted by IS hackers on TV5Monde’s Facebook page

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