Leaked materials posted online appear authentic, officials say, as federal authorities investigate cyber intrusion tied to the Handala group.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Department of Justice has confirmed that the personal email account of FBI Director Kash Patel was compromised in a cyberattack attributed to an Iran-linked hacking group, with stolen materials now circulating online.
The group, identifying itself as the Handala Hack Team, claimed responsibility for the breach and published files that include personal photos, documents and communications. In a message accompanying the release, the group stated, “Soon you’ll realize the FBI’s security was nothing more than a joke,” while sharing images allegedly taken from Patel’s account.
JUST IN – FBI director Kash Patel's personal email address hacked, says DOJ. This comes only a day after Iran-linked Handala hacking group claims it breached the FBI: "Soon you will realize that the FBI's security was nothing more than a joke." pic.twitter.com/XeuogL8I0Y
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) March 27, 2026
A Justice Department official told Reuters that the exposed materials “appeared to be authentic,” though independent verification of the full dataset has not been confirmed. The files reportedly include a resume and a range of personal and professional correspondence spanning nearly a decade.
According to the Reuters report, the Gmail account targeted in the attack corresponds to an address previously associated with Patel in earlier data breaches cataloged by cybersecurity researchers. Google, which operates Gmail, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Handala, which describes itself as a pro-Palestinian hacking collective, has been linked by Western analysts to Iranian cyberintelligence operations. The group previously claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on a U.S.-based medical company earlier this month and has been associated with multiple online campaigns targeting Western institutions.
The breach follows recent U.S. government actions against Iranian-linked cyber networks, including the seizure of domains used by the group and the announcement of financial rewards for information leading to the identification of those involved.
In a statement referenced in a social media post, the FBI said it is aware of malicious actors targeting Patel’s personal email and noted that the State Department is offering “up to a $10 million reward for information leading to the identification of the Handala Hack Team out of Iran.”
Additional posts circulating online highlighted the timing of the breach, which occurred shortly after federal authorities disrupted cyber operations attributed to the same group. A widely shared post described the incident as a direct response by the hackers following enforcement actions.
Another post reiterated the group’s warning message and referenced the release of materials linked to the FBI director.
The incident underscores ongoing cybersecurity tensions between the United States and Iran, particularly as both sides continue to engage in retaliatory measures across digital and operational domains.
Federal agencies have not disclosed whether any classified systems were affected, and the investigation into the breach remains ongoing.
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