Hackers took control of the Associated Press Twitter account on Tuesday and sent a false tweet about explosions in the White House that briefly sent US financial markets reeling.

In the latest high-profile hacking incident involving social media service Twitter, an official AP account reported that two explosions at the White House injured President Barack Obama.

AP spokesman Paul Colford quickly confirmed the tweet was “bogus”, and White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters that Obama was fine, just minutes after the tweet hit a little after 1pm.