US presidential campaigns targeted by hackers: US spy chief's office

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) James Clapper testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on "Worldwide threats to America and our allies" in Capitol Hill, Washington February 9, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - US presidential campaigns and related organizations have been targeted by hackers, the office of the US National Intelligence Director James Clapper said on Wednesday, but did not provide details on specific intrusions.

"We're aware that campaigns and related organizations and individuals are targeted by actors with a variety of motivations- from philosophical differences to espionage - and capabilities- from defacements to intrusions," Clapper's spokesman Brian Hale said in a statement, deferring to the FBI for details on specific incidents.

Earlier, Clapper said the US intelligence community had "already had some indications" of hacking attempts against presidential campaigns.

"As the campaign intensifies we'll probably have more" attacks, Clapper said at a morning event at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington.

The last two US presidential cycles in 2008 and 2012 witnessed a barrage of cyber attacks from a range of adversaries targeting President Barack Obama's campaign and the campaigns of his Republican foes.