Anonymous Hacker Group Members Busted; Interpol arrested 25 members on Tuesday

On Tuesday, the Interpol authorities said that at least 25 suspects relating to a loose-knit ‘Anonymous Hacker Movement’ have been nabbed. The arrests were carried out during a sweep, Interpol further explained, across South America and Europe. Suspected of planning cyber-attacks against various sensitive websites, the members arrested aged between 17 to 40 years.

These members were busted in Spain, Colombia, Chile and Argentina while LAWGEITC officers (i.e. Latin American Working Group of Experts on Information Technology Crime) also assisted Interpol in operations. The national law enforcement officers believed that the personnel held planned to launch coordinated cyber-attacks, targeting defense ministry of Colombia, presidential websites, Endesa electricity company (Chile), national library and several other sensitive networks.

Investigations were already underway starting from mid-February, informed officials, which eventually led the authorities to the seizure of as many as 250 IT related items, equipment, mobile phones and other stuff. The search operations were extended to at least 40 premises while in 15 cities. Four of the arrests were carried out in Spain and the suspected Anonymous hackers held there, had connections with attacks on political party websites of the country.

Following the arrests, two numbers servers under the group’s use were blocked by authorities, respectively in Bulgaria and the Czech Republic. Recognized only by aliases ‘Pacotron’ and ‘Thunder,’ the Anonymous Group’s alleged manager was also among the four held in Spain. Authorities believe the four persons are experts in defacing any website(s), carrying out denial-of-service attack(s) as well as publishing data on various sensitive online offices.