MEDELLIN, Colombia, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Colombian students were prevented from taking part in their university's Web site survey about campus protests after hackers blocked access, officials said.

The international hacker group Anonymous blocked Internet access to Medellin's University of Antioquia's portal after the site asked if students wanted to continue strikes at the institution, Caracol Radio reported Friday.


Anonymous called the viral attack Operation U de A. It was timed to send simultaneous requests that, combined, collapsed the site and blocked access.

Only 150 students were able to respond to the survey among thousands who attend the university.

The hacker group said it will continue to block the online consultation process in hopes of extending the strike into October.

The student protests began almost two weeks ago after the Colombian president proposed allowing private institutions to finance activities at public universities.