Fact Check: Did Iranian hackers reveal that Israel was behind Charlie Kirk's death?

OREM, UTAH: A year after the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a rumor began circulating on social media platforms, claiming that Iranian hackers revealed that Kirk was killed by an explosive device manufactured in the US and that Israel was behind the assassination. The claim has sparked concern and prompted a fact-check.

Claim: Israel was behind Charlie Kirk's assassination

According to a viral post that appeared on X, Iranian hackers who allegedly breached the accounts of senior US officials claimed that Kirk was killed by a small explosive device manufactured by a US company and also claimed that Israel was behind his assassination. 

The post continues to go viral, garnering tens of thousands of views as of this writing, with many appearing to believe the claim to be true and criticizing the US and Israeli governments for their alleged involvement in the tragic death of the former Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder.

Meanwhile, a few others dismissed the claim as part of a conspiracy theory and called for a fact-check.

Fact Check: No credible evidence to support the claim

Although there are several theories alleging that Israel is behind Kirk’s death, there is no evidence of Iranian hackers making such a claim.

There are no publicly available statements, transcripts, press releases, or social media posts from any Iran-based groups claiming that Kirk was killed by a small explosive device manufactured in the US and that Israel was behind the assassination.

If the claim were true, prominent media outlets would have covered it, making headlines and triggering nationwide debates and controversies.

Moreover, the account that posted the claim is not a credible source, and though not explicitly a parody account, it has posted several such fake and exaggerated claims for the sake of engagement.

Charlie Kirk's family accuses Utah officials of security failures

The claim surfaced after Kirk’s family is preparing to sue Utah Valley University and the State of Utah, accusing them of security failures that contributed to his fatal shooting in September last year. 

According to the legal notice, the family claims university police were warned about rooftop security risks before the event but failed to control access to the rooftop where investigators and prosecutors say the alleged shooter fired from. 

“His murder was entirely preventable and, in fact, would not have happened had the State of Utah and UVU followed through on their stated security promises, which included protecting the rooftops surrounding the quad where Charlie was speaking,” Brett Parkinson, an attorney for Kirk’s family, said.