Hackers Hit CTK Web, Release Fake News on Failed Attempt on Pellegrini's Life-2

Prague, April 23 (TASR-correspondent) - Websites of the Czech News Agency (CTK) on Tuesday were attacked by hackers, who released several pieces of fake news, including one about a failed assassination attempt on Slovak president-elect Peter Pellegrini. Czech daily Denik N was first to break the news. The Czech Security Information Service (BIS) and other relevant authorities are dealing with the incident. The fake news appeared on CTK's website Ceske noviny at about 11 a.m. It claimed that the Czech Republic had prevented an assassination attempt on Pellegrini planned by an Ukrainian diplomat serving in the Czech Republic. "Mr. Vitalij Usatyj, Chargé d'affaires of Ukraine in the Czech Republic, has been declared persona non grata in connection with the organisation of the assassination of Slovak President-elect Peter Pellegrini on the territory of the Czech Republic by Ukrainian citizen Marunich V.," reads the fake news article, which has already been removed from CTK's website. The Czech Foreign Affairs Ministry rejected the veracity of the information. "We categorically deny that this is true. It's a hoax. According to information available to us, it isn't from the authentic news service of CTK," said ministry spokesman Daniel Drake. The news agency later denied that the news was authentic as well. ko/df