Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2001/10/01/weve_cracked_into_bin_ladens/

We've cracked into bin Laden's bank – UK hackers

Sudanese Tease

By John Leyden

Posted in Security, 1st October 2001 19:19 GMT

A group of British hackers has claimed to have broken into the systems of banks in the Sudan, and extracted information on accounts related to Osama's bin Laden terrorist network.

Young Intelligent Hackers Against Terror (Yihat) claims to have obtained data on accounts held by members of Al Qaeda, including bin Laden, held at the AlShamal Islamic Bank.

Yihat, which is fronted by millionaire ex-hacker Kim Schmitz, told Newsbytes that the information obtained has been turned over to the FBI, but this remains unconfirmed and details of the hack are sketchy.

Schmitz last month announced a $10 million reward for "information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Osama Bin Laden and/or his terroristic [sic] cells", something he denies was a publicity stunt.

The information that Al Qaeda had bank accounts at the AlShamal Islamic Bank came from a Sudanese banker, in response to the bounty offer, Schmitz claims.

Schmitz, who was jailed for hacking NASA, Pentagon, and Citibank systems in the early 1990s, is acting as a spokesman for Yihat, and states that he played no part in the hack, which (whatever its motives) would be illegal. ®