The website of the Dutch-speaking socialist party Vooruit.brussels has been hacked and taken offline.
The attackers are demanding a ransom in exchange for data, but Vooruit.brussels says it has no intention of taking part in such a deal. The party immediately reported the incident to the police and notified the Data Protection Authority on Thursday.
"This is a very unpleasant situation, just in the middle of the campaign, and in times where extremes are gaining power," stated party co-chairs Suzy Bleys and Ans Persoons. "The socialist movement refuses to bow down to these forms of aggression."
It is not yet known how hackers gained access to the site. Certain data is now irretrievable, and a message in the database indicated that the perpetrators are demanding a ransom.
"We are taking every necessary precaution to prevent such an incident in the future and seeking the assistance of external professionals," the party stated.
