Alleged LulzSec hacker Ryan Ackroyd has appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, facing charges of attacking the computer systems of the UK's Serious Organised Crime Agency, the CIA, several entertainment companies, News International and the NHS. Ackroyd was released on bail under the condition that he would not access the internet or possess any device that could do so.

LulzSec was formed in May of last year and quickly went on a hacking spree, launching denial of service (DoS) attacks against the CIA, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Sony, US game studio Bethesda Softworks, CCP (the makers of the online game Eve Online) and News International. LulzSec is also accused of having breached, or having tried to breach, the networks of the NHS, Sony Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Nintendo, US broadcasting company PBS and security companies Black & Berg, Infraguard and HBGary.

In March, a coordinated international police action had led to the arrest of five suspects in the US, the UK and Ireland. It was later revealed that the FBI had been able to arrest the head of the LulzSec organisation, Hector Xavier Monsegur (known online as "Sabu"), back in June of 2011. Sabu subsequently collaborated with officials, leading to the eventual arrests.

Ackroyd is faced with charges of conspiring with three other alleged hackers to carry out the LulzSec attacks. According to the BBC, Ackroyd only confirmed his name and address and was released on bail until a plea and case management hearing on 11 May.

(fab)