Islamic State-linked hackers target thousands of New Yorkers

NEW YORK, April 29 (UPI) -- Some 3,000 New York City-area residents, most of them private citizens with no government ties, were targeted in an Islamic State "hit list," law enforcement said.

The list, intended as a threat, contains as many as 3,600 names. It includes some employees with the State Department and Homeland Security, but mostly contains personal information from private citizens. It was posted on site accessible to only IS supporters and is being considered a scare campaign from the IS-related group Caliphate Cyber United.

Law enforcement authorities said there is no specific threat to any one person or group. The FBI and New York Police Department plan to visit the homes of those targeted. The FBI said it would not comment on the incident specifically, but "the FBI routinely notifies individuals and organizations of information collected during the course of an investigation that may be perceived as potentially threatening in nature."

"Potential threats may relate to individuals, institutions or organizations and are shared in order to sensitize potential victims to the observed threat, and to assist them in taking proper steps to ensure their safety," FBI spokeswoman Carol Cratty said.

The IS, also known as ISIS, ISIL and Daesh, has published online "hit lists" before but with fewer names and more government-related individuals.