Last updated on April 30th, 2026 at 10:31 am
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has confirmed the arrest and extradition of Xu Zewei, a Chinese national accused of orchestrating cyberattacks during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Xu was transferred from Italy to the United States over the weekend and is expected to face federal charges tied to hacking activities between 2020 and 2021.
The FBI and our great partners have arrested Xu Zewei – a PRC national and state-sponsored hacker – allegedly responsible for a massive cyber intrusion campaign in 2020 and 2021 stealing COVID-19 research from American institutions.
Xu has been extradited to the U.S. out of… pic.twitter.com/d3jdIK09Xo
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 28, 2026
Alleged COVID-19 cyber espionage case moves forward
Authorities allege that Xu played a role in targeting U.S.-based universities and medical research institutions racing to develop COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Investigators say the attacks were part of a broader effort to access sensitive data at a critical moment in global health research.
The FBI has linked Xu to HAFNIUM, a group accused of carrying out a sweeping cyber intrusion campaign. Officials claim the operation compromised nearly 13,000 U.S. organizations, including unauthorized access to email systems and confidential research files. Patel described the extradition as a significant milestone in holding foreign cyber actors accountable, emphasizing that coordinated global enforcement remains a top priority.
Italian authorities worked closely with U.S. officials throughout the investigation, leading to Xu’s arrest and eventual transfer. Patel publicly acknowledged Italy’s role, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in combating cybercrime.
Patel launches legal battle against media outlet
In a separate development, Patel has filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic and journalist Sarah Fitzpatrick. The lawsuit, submitted to a U.S. District Court in Washington, challenges a report that alleged misconduct during Patel’s tenure as FBI Director.
The publication reportedly accused Patel of issues including erratic behaviour, excessive drinking, and repeated absences. Patel has strongly denied the claims, calling them “false and obviously fabricated,” and is seeking damages for reputational harm.
Additionally, the FBI warned in May 2025 that hackers are now leveraging deepfake technology to impersonate senior U.S. government officials in a series of phishing campaigns aimed at stealing sensitive data.
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