BBC Twitter accounts hacked by pro-Assad online group

The Twitter account belonging to the BBC's weather service was hacked on Thursday, the public broadcaster said.

The "Syrian Electronic Army", a group of pro-Assad hackers and online activists that has already disrupted the Facebook page of Barack Obama, claimed responsibility for the breach. The group has recently targeted the website and Twitter account of watchdog organisation Human Rights Watch and the Twitter account of French news service France 24.

The BBC Weather Twitter feed began posting unusual messages in the early afternoon, ranging from offensive to humorous and often making reference to Syria and Middle Eastern politics.

One tweet declared: "Long Live #Syria Al-Assad #SEA." Soon after the Syrian Electronic Army said it had hacked the account along with several others. "@BBCarabicOnline & @BBCWeather & @Bbcradioulster was hacked by Syrian Electronic Army #SEA #Syria," the group said in a tweet. The hackers' tweets have since been removed from the BBC Weather account and replaced by a tweet apologising to followers.

The account of BBC's Radio Ulster service, which covers parts of Northern Ireland, also posted a tweet apologising for abnormal service. "We are aware that in the past few hours several BBC Twitter accounts have been hacked. We are actively working on this and expect it to be resolved shortly," a BBC statement said.