The breach of FBI Director Kash Patel's personal Gmail account by an Iran-linked hacking group has prompted the US State Department's Rewards for Justice programme to offer up to $10 million (approximately £7.8 million) for information leading to the identification of members of the Handala Hack Team, the group that publicly claimed responsibility for the attack on 28 March 2026.
The FBI confirmed the breach in a statement, saying it is 'aware of malicious actors targeting Director Patel's personal email information' and that it has 'taken all necessary steps to mitigate potential risks associated with this activity.' The bureau also stated that 'the information in question is historical in nature and involves no government information.' A Justice Department official separately confirmed the breach to Reuters, which was the first outlet to report it.
