Iran-linked group claims hacking of FBI AI drones, threatens World Cup
An Iran-linked group called Handala reportedly claimed to have breached FBI drones equipped with facial recognition and license plate reading used for counterterrorism operations. The group published images allegedly from the hack and threatened to target the World Cup, though the authenticity of the provided evidence was questioned.
What happened
The Iran-linked group Handala claimed to have hacked FBI first-person view (FPV) drones and accessed images and data for months, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist organizations.
The group claimed the drones were equipped with facial recognition and license plate reading for counterterrorism operations and published photos and videos allegedly obtained from the hacked drones, though SITE questioned their authenticity. One video was identified by SITE as having been created in December 2024 by a software platform designed for a US police department to assess tornado damage.
Handala threatened to target the World Cup, stating "it is better that you reinforce the security of your World Cup, we do not like any of those teams. Do not forget: the FPV drones are everywhere; you never know when one might end up on your team's bus."
Reported impact
The threat prompted FBI to position drones around World Cup stadiums to prevent unauthorized overflights and ban drones from events related to the tournament.
Index analysis
The Department of Justice had previously warned of potential cyberattacks by Iranian groups following US and Israeli bombardments of Tehran in February, which sparked Middle East conflict.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.