WikiLeaks hackers threaten UK government

LONDON - An army of computer hackers is planning to bring down British government websites if Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is extradited to Sweden. ccording to The Telegraph, the 1,500-strong network of online activists has already sabotaged the websites of MasterCard, Visa and the Swedish government with millions of bogus visits.

The attacks, termed “Operation Payback”, came after the credit card companies and PayPal, an online payment firm, announced that they would no longer process donations to the anti-secrecy organisation.

The group of hackers, called Anonymous, said it would target British government websites if Assange is extradited to Sweden, where he is wanted over allegations of sexual assault.

Gregg Housh, an American Internet activist who previously worked with the hackers, said: “They will go after the weakest links, because they want to see results. They will probably test a few sites and then decide.”

The hackers said they were planning to target Amazon, the online retailer.

Assange is due to appear before the City of Westminster magistrate’s court on Tuesday, where his lawyers will attempt to secure his release on bail.

He has been accused by two women of one count of rape, two of sexual molestation and one of unlawful coercion. He denies the allegations and says that the sex was consensual. (ANI)