Four Arrests and Searches Throughout Italy as Postal Police Swoop on Anonymous Hackers

Arrestees suspected of belonging to criminal hacking ring

It was a bad day for Italy’s hackers. Postal police officers have dismantled a suspected criminal hacking organisation that exploited the notoriety of the Anonymous movement to launch attacks on the computer systems of key infrastructures, institutional websites and leading companies. Four arrests were made. Investigators believe that those detained are the leaders in Italy of the international Anonymous movement.

ARRESTS – The hackers arrested are thought to be responsible for attacks on websites belonging to the government, the Vatican and Parliament. Four suspects have been placed under house arrest and about ten searches were carried out. Investigators believe that the four detained belong to Anonymous, although they also used the movement’s logo for their own personal purposes. The operation, codenamed Tango Down, was conducted by the postal police’s national centre for cybercrime and the protection of critical infrastructures (CNAIPIC), and coordinated by the Rome public prosecutor’s office.

SEARCHES – Postal police officers carried out searches in Venice, Bologna, Rome, Turin, Lecce and Ancona. A large quantity of material, mostly computer-related, was seized and will now be examined by experts. Investigators say that the four arrested used the Anonymous brand for personal ends as well as to further the purposes of the movement.

English translation by Giles Watson

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