HACKTIVISTS claim that Matthew Flannery, the self-proclaimed "leader" of hacking group "LulzSec", is not responsible for the attacks on an Australian government website with which he has been charged.

The 24-year-old IT security worker was arrested and charged by the Australian Federal Police on Tuesday for gaining unauthorised access to and causing data impairment to a government agency website.

But minutes after the arrest became public, Twitter was flooded with claims the AFP had the wrong man.

This absolute bullshit great work feds u busted a ddos fag >> Self-proclaimed LulzSec hacking leader arrested in NSW abc.net.au/news/2013-04-2… — Anonymous Australia (@AuAnon) April 23, 2013

#AFP trying to make this like they cracked the big case yet we dont even know what hack it was some big hecker #lulznot — Anonymous Australia (@AuAnon) April 24, 2013

Now news.com.au has learned that a hacker going by the name of ‘Ryan’ is claiming he deliberately set Flannery up to punish him for being a troll.



Ryan has claimed on file-sharing website pastebin that he is in fact responsible for the attacks.



"I just emailed AFP person and told him I did it," he wrote. "because I f***ing did it.

"I wanted to get aush0k arrested but now I kind of like him... just for the sake of trolling cops."

Ryan alleges he implicated Flannery, because he "badmouthed" him online, "so I decided f*** this kid lets get him locked up".



The hacker claims that he was responsible for defacing MIT's website, as well as for hacking an Australian government website.



Another source, speaking on condition of anonymity, says he has known Flannery for more than 10 years and that he is well known as a troll who made enemies online.



"Matthew always was a troll," the source said. "He had a very hard life... he was in the process of turning his life around.



"The crimes he has been accused of go back about six months.



“As for being the leader of LulzSec, that's a good laugh.”



The AFP refused to comment on the matter.