London man cuffed over disaster relief site hack

Suspect quizzed after failed attack

Police yesterday arrested a 28-year-old man from East London on suspicion of attempting to hack into the website of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC). The New Year's Eve attack on the site of the organisation co-ordinating efforts to help support victims of the Asian tsunami disaster failed.

The attack was blocked by BT, hosts of the secure payment page of the website, which notified the Metropolitan Police Service about the assault. Scotland Yard’s subsequent investigation lead to the arrest of a suspect at an address in the Bishopsgate area of London by officers from the Met's Computer Crime Unit yesterday.

The suspect was taken to Belgravia police station and questioned over alleged offences under the Computer Misuse Act. He was released on police bail until early February pending further police inquiries. Police are examining computer equipment seized during the search.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said that the DEC website continues to be secure. "The security systems in place meant that this attempted breach was identified and blocked very quickly," it said. ®

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