What Appeared on a Major Newspaper's Website Results in FBI Investigation

Federal authorities are on alert after the website of a local newspaper in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was hacked Wednesday.

The newspaper's top online story about the 1971 slaying of a state police officer was removed and replaced with pro-Islamic State propaganda in an article titled "CHRISTMAS WILL NEVER BE MERRY ANY LONGER," KRWG-TV reported. The mystery post reportedly warned residents that their privacy was being invaded.

Image source: KOAT-TV

The post read, in part:

You’ll see no mercy infidels. We are already here, we are in your PCs, in each house, in each office. With Allah’s permission we begin with Albuquerque. While the us and its satellites are bombing the Islamic State, we broke into your home networks and personal devices and know everything about you. We know all personal data of Albuquerque locals: Where you live, what you eat, your diseases and even your health insurance cards. You will look around more often, will call up your children more often, think of your security more often, but that won’t help you.

The post also showed an illustrated photo of a man whose face was covered. The photo included the words, "CyberCaliphate" and "i love isis," an acronym used to refer to the terrorist group the Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for the beheadings of American journalists James Foley and Stephen Sotfloff as well as British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning.

The website was taken offline for several hours Wednesday. The Islamic State post was removed at about 9 a.m. and later replaced with another story with the headline, “Bonuses for APD brass draw fire.”

Monty Midyette, the Albuquerque Journal's director of information systems, said the newspaper's servers were not breached and the incident appeared to only be limited to one story.

The FBI is aware of the incident but said it is not aware of any other website attacks that may have occurred in New Mexico on Wednesday, KWRG-TV reported.

FBI spokesman Frank Fisher told TheBlaze Friday the bureau is in contact with the Albuquerque Journal but said they "do not believe there is a credible threat to public safety" at this time.

Editor's note: This post has been updated.

(H/T: Gawker)

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