Police Say Hacking Suspect, 20, Confessed To Posting German Leaders' Private Data

A 20-year-old German citizen has "comprehensively" confessed to a hacking attack that released personal and financial data of hundreds of high-profile politicians, journalists other and public figures, according to Germany's federal criminal police, or BKA.

Police arrested the man and searched his home on Sunday, and he cooperated with investigators when he was interrogated on Monday, the BKA said. The suspect told police he acted alone in publishing the information.

The suspect's identity has not been released, but his victims are well-known. They include Chancellor Angela Merkel and members of her Christian Democratic Union party, as well as German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the Social Democratic Party of Germany.

A wide variety of stolen material was published, including cellphone numbers, credit card data, photographs and private communications.

Nearly every large German political party was affected — except for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The suspect told police he had "acted out of annoyance over public statements" made by his victims, authorities said.