LONDON: An India-based computer hacking gang targeted critics of the Qatar World Cup, an investigation by British journalists said on Sunday, as the Qatari government angrily denied any role in the cover-up. did not
Databases leaked to Britain’s JEE News and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism revealed the hacking of dozens of lawyers, journalists and celebrities in 2019 “by a particular client,” the newspaper and the bureau said in a statement. .
“These investigations strongly point to this client being the host of the World Cup: Qatar,” it said, prompting Qatari officials to call the allegation “blatantly false and without merit”.
Former European football chief Michel Platini was among those targeted.
Platini, who was hacked before speaking to French police about World Cup-related corruption claims, told JEE News he was “shocked and deeply shocked” by the report.
He said he would pursue all possible legal avenues regarding the serious “violation” of his privacy.
JEE News, in its report based on a joint investigation, said London-based consultant Ghanim Nusiba, whose company Cornerstone produced the World Cup corruption report, was also targeted.
Others include Nathalie Gault, a French senator and vocal critic of Qatar accused of financing “Islamic terrorism,” and Mark Somos, a German-based lawyer who represented the Qatari royal family at the United Nations Human Rights Council. Complained about.
More than 100 Were Targeted
The dispute comes two weeks before the World Cup kicks off in the conservative Gulf state on November 20.
The newspaper alleged that the hack was masterminded by a 31-year-old employee of the accountancy firm, which denies the claims.
Located in a suburb of the Indian tech city Gurugram near Delhi, his network of computer hackers allegedly used “phishing” techniques to gain access to their email inboxes, luring their targets, some Sometimes malicious software is also deployed to control their computer cameras and microphones. .
However, the hacking attacks were not limited to those interested in the Qatar World Cup.
In total, the private email accounts of more than 100 victims were targeted by the group, “on behalf of authoritarian states, British lawyers and investigators working for their wealthy clients,” the report said.
These included politicians dealing with Russia-related issues such as former British Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond.
He was targeted during a period when he was dealing with the aftermath of the 2018 Novichok attack on former double agent Sergei Skripal, which Britain has blamed on Russia.
The Swiss president and his deputy were also hacked after the president met with then-British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss Russian sanctions.
JEE News added that the gang also took control of the computers of Pakistani politicians and generals and monitored their conversations, “apparently at the behest of Indian intelligence”.
‘No Evidence’
A Qatari official dismissed the allegations, calling the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) report “full of glaring inconsistencies and falsehoods that undermine the credibility of his organization”.
“The report relies on a single source that claims its ultimate client was Qatar, although there is no evidence to substantiate this,” the official told JEE News in a statement.
“A number of companies have flaunted their non-existent relationship with Qatar in an attempt to raise their profile ahead of the World Cup.
The official added, “TBIJ’s decision to publish a report without a single credible piece of evidence to support its allegations against Qatar raises serious concerns about their motives, which are more political than public interest.” , appear to be driven by reasons.”
