Channel regained control of website, but later closed it 'for maintenance'

A French television network has been hacked by people claiming allegiance to ISIS, forcing it to broadcast only pre-recorded programmes.

The hackers completely cut transmission of 11 channels belonging to Paris-based TV5 Monde and took over its websites and social media accounts for a full three hours early this morning.

The channel's director, Yves Bigot, said the attack was continuing this morning. He told RTL radio that the network has restored its signal but can only broadcast recorded programs, not live content.

Chilling: The ISIS hackers completely cut transmission of 11 channels belonging to Paris-based TV5 Monde and took over its websites and social media accounts for a full three hours early this morning.

Sick: The hackers posted documents on TV5Monde's Facebook page purporting to be the identity cards and CVs of relatives of French soldiers involved in anti-ISIS operation in Iraq

Mr Bigot said he was shaken when he saw 11 channels with a black screen 'and when we discovered the sense of the message appearing on our social media and our websites, it both allowed us to understand what was happening and obviously worried us.'

'We can only broadcast pre-recorded programmes. We are not yet in a position to re-establish our broadcasting schedule nor to produce programmes,' Bigot added.

The hackers posted documents on TV5Monde's Facebook page purporting to be the identity cards and CVs of relatives of French soldiers involved in anti-ISIS operation in Iraq.

It also reportedly made specific threats against French troops.

'Soldiers of France, stay away from the Islamic State! You have the chance to save your families, take advantage of it,' read one message on TV5Monde's Facebook page. 'The CyberCaliphate continues its cyberjihad against the enemies of Islamic State,' the message added.

Fear: The channel's director, Yves Bigot, said the attack was continuing this morning. He told RTL radio that the network has restored its signal but can only broadcast recorded programs, not live content

Militants: France is part of a US-led military coalition carrying out air strikes against IS in Iraq and Syria, where the jihadist group (pictured) has seized swathes of territory and declared an Islamic 'caliphate

HALF OF ALL EUROPEAN JIHADIS IN SYRIA AND IRAQ ARE FRENCH Almost 1,500 French nationals are currently fighting in Syria and Iraq - making up a staggering 47 per cent of the European fighters currently waging jihad in the region. Senator Jean-Pierre Sueur, who has led an investigation into French extremists, told local media that intelligence officials are also monitoring more than 3,000 people suspected of being involved in Syrian networks. That marks a 24 per cent increase in the five months since November, The Local reported. In total 85 French nationals are thought to have been killed fighting in ISIS-held areas in Syria and Iraq. Two more are said to be detained in Syria, although Sueur did not elaborate on who held them or why they were in the country. The most pressing concern, however, are the estimated 200 jihadis who have since returned to France after leaving Syria or Iraq. The worry is that these potentially highly-trained killers could be willing and able to carry Charlie Hebdo-style terror attacks in France. Sueur added that French prisons are currently holding 152 known Islamic extremists. Advertisement

TV5Monde regained control of its social networks by 2:00 am this morning but television broadcasts were likely to take hours, if not days, to return to normal.

The attack would have required weeks of preparation, Bigot said.

Late last night Bigot told the AFP news agency: 'We are no longer able to broadcast any of our channels. Our websites and social media sites are no longer under our control and are all displaying claims of responsibility by Islamic State.'

The website was still offline by 9:00am local time today, displaying an 'under maintenance' note to visitors.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the hack was an 'unacceptable attack on the freedom of information and expression', voicing 'total solidarity with the editorial staff.'

The hackers had accused French President Francois Hollande of committing 'an unforgivable mistake' by getting involved in 'a war that serves no purpose'.

'That's why the French received the gifts of Charlie Hebdo and Hyper Cacher in January,' it said on the broadcaster's Facebook page, referring to the twin attacks by Islamist gunmen in Paris that left 17 people dead over three days and deeply shocked France.

A police officer stands guard in front of the main entrance of French television network TV5Monde today

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve (left), Culture minister Fleur Pellerin (centre) and Foreign Affairs Minister Laurent Fabius (right) talk to the press after visiting French television network TV5Monde this morning

A picture taken earlier this morning shows an empty newsroom at French television network TV5Monde

Jihadists have become increasingly adept at using the Internet to spread propaganda and attack media outlets.

In Feburary, the Twitter feed of Newsweek was briefly hacked and threats were made against President Barack Obama's family.

And in the immediate aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, hackers claiming to be Islamists hijacked hundreds of French websites, flooding them with jihadist propaganda.

France is part of a US-led military coalition carrying out air strikes against IS in Iraq and Syria, where the jihadist group has seized swathes of territory and declared an Islamic 'caliphate'.

More than 1,500 French nationals have left France to join the militants' ranks in Iraq and Syria, where they represent almost half the number of European fighters present, according to a report released Wednesday by the French Senate.