FBI director personal email hacked by Iran-linked group: US media

CNN and other US media outlets, citing sources familiar with the breach, said the hack of Patel's email was claimed by the Handala Hack Team, a pro-Iranian hacktivist group.

According to CNN, the stolen emails include personal, business and travel correspondence and appear to date from 2011 to 2022, prior to Patel being named FBI director by President Donald Trump.

The FBI and Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Justice Department warned following the February 28 launch of the US-Israeli war on Iran of potential cyberattacks by Iranian actors.

The FBI and Justice Department announced the seizure a week ago of four website domains that were allegedly used by hackers affiliated with Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

Among those seized were two domains allegedly used by Handala.

The Justice Department said the websites were used for "psychological operations targeting adversaries of the regime," posting stolen data and "calling for the killing of journalists, regime dissidents, and Israeli persons."

"Iran thought they could hide behind fake websites and keyboard threats to terrorize Americans and silence dissidents," Patel said in a March 19 statement announcing the seizure of the domains.

"This FBI will hunt down every actor behind these cowardly death threats and cyberattacks and will bring the full force of American law enforcement down on them," he added.