British spies ‘hacked Belgian telecoms firm for minister’
Report by Belgium government supports claim by NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden five years ago when he leaked slides exposing targets of UK hacking
British spies are likely to have hacked into Belgium’s biggest telecommunications operator for at least two years on the instruction of UK ministers, a confidential report submitted by Belgian prosecutors is said to have concluded.
The finding would support an allegation made by the whistle-blower Edward Snowden five years ago when he leaked 20 slides exposing the targets of hacking by the British intelligence service GCHQ.
According to unconfirmed reports in the Belgian media, the federal prosecutors’ report suggests the hackers closed their operation within a matter of minutes of being exposed in August 2013. It is believed the interception of Belgacom, now Proximus, had been ongoing since at least 2011.
The justice minister, Koen Geens, has confirmed he has received the report and it will be discussed within the national security council, led by the prime minister, Charles Michel.
The British spies are said to have targeted the computers of Belgacom employees working in security and maintenance with fake LinkedIn messages. There was a particular focus on the Belgian company’s subsidiary unit, Belgacom International Carrier Services, which handles phone and data traffic in Africa and the Middle East.
