The Hobart International Airport website has been disabled after being hacked and defaced with “pro-Islamic militant messages”.

The website was hacked at about 3am and was taken offline three hours later.

Tasmania Police are investigating and the airport’s website security is being reviewed.

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Airport operations were not affected.

In a statement, the airport’s operators said website security was being reviewed with its IT service providers.

The operators would not detail the content of the messages.

“Website defacing is a type of attack on a website that changes the visual appearance of a website,” the statement read.

“The airport website was defaced with pro-Islamic militant messages.”

While Google search results still showed the hacker’s message on Monday, the website is likely to remain offline for most of the day.

In a brief statement, a State Government spokeswoman said policing for Hobart airport remained the responsibility of Tasmania Police.

She said the government had expressed disappointment over the removal of Australian Federal Police officers, but had full confidence in Tasmania Police.

AFP officers have not been stationed at the airport since last November.

Passengers seeking information about flights were advised to check with relevant airlines.