The email system of the Albanian parliament has been targeted by a cyberattack allegedly carried out by a hacking group linked to Iran, according to Albania’s National Cyber Security Authority.

The group, known as Homeland Justice, is believed to have attempted to access or leak emails belonging to several Albanian political figures. 

The National Cyber Security Authority said it had launched an investigation into the incident. The agency said a dedicated working group had been formed to analyse the attack, with technical teams conducting on-site assessments and taking necessary response measures.

“In the context of the recent geopolitical developments in the Middle East and the increasing risk of cyber activities against Albania, as well as following today's reporting of a cyber attack related to the Albanian Parliament's email, the National Cyber Security Authority held a series of meetings with representatives of critical and important information infrastructures in the country, focusing on increasing vigilance and strengthening protective measures,” the agency said in a statement posted on Facebook on March 10.

Content allegedly taken from parliamentary email accounts was later published on the messaging platform Telegram, according to media reports. The material was said to involve accounts linked to senior political figures, including former deputy prime minister Belinda Balluku, ruling Socialist Party official Damian Gjiknuri and opposition lawmakers Gazmend Bardhi and Edi Paloka.

The alleged breach follows earlier cyber incidents in Albania, including attacks that temporarily disrupted the websites of the Municipality of Tirana and the Institute of Statistics of Albania. In 2022, Albania experienced a series of large-scale cyberattacks attributed to groups backed by Iran. The incidents prompted the Albanian government to sever diplomatic relations with Iran and expel Iranian diplomats from the country.