A key jihadist Internet forum has been knocked off the Internet, and counterterrorism experts say it appears it was hacked.
Cybersecurity analysts say the al-Shamukh forum appears to have been taken down by a fairly sophisticated cyberattack that hit not only thewebsite, but the server - which is the main computer that enables people toaccess the site over the Internet.
Evan Kohlmann, a counterterrorism expert who tracks jihadist websites for Flashpoint Partners consultancy in New York, described the site as a key al-Qaida propaganda forum.
He said it bounces around between Internet hosts every few months but has seemingly been allowed to exist as an open secret, possibly allowing a Western government to use it as an intelligence resource.
NBC News first reported the site was hacked.