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Hackers from the shadowy digital protest group Anonymous have waded into the debate over Jeremy Clarkson's suspension and threatened to attack the BBC unless he is reinstated.

In an open letter published online, a hacktivist threatened to use a digital weapon called a DDoS attack to bring down the BBC website.

Almost 10,000 Anonymous supporters have read the letter, which announced the beginning of a campaign called #OpBringBackClarkson

The hacker wrote: "Dear BBC, you don't wanna piss off 300 million people [an estimate of the Anonymous support base].

"You are warned: DDOS cannons will fire if you don't comply.

"Bring back Clarkson!"

Jeremy Clarkson was suspended from the BBC following allegations of a "fracas" with a show producer.

Top Gear will not be broadcast while the BBC investigates claims that Clarkson punched the producer.

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A petition set up in support of the beleaguered petrolhead has now been signed by more than 350,000 people. It is the most popular petition posted on Change.org in the last two years.

A DDoS attack overwhelms a target with traffic, causing it to collapse.

If used against the BBC, it is unlikely to do permanent damage, but could bring down its websites temporarily.