A hacking group called Anonymous launched a series of attacks on government websites on Monday night in revenge for the country attempting to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to Sweden.
Assange is wanted by the Scandinavian country for questioning over sexual assault allegations, but he has holed himself up in the Ecuadorian Embassy to evade capture by the British police.
Anonymous, whose members often appear in public wearing Guy Fawkes masks, has been an outspoken supporter of Assange and on Monday night showed its anger at the Coalition by attacking the websites of the Ministry of Justice, 10 Downing Street, the Home Office and the Department of Work and Pensions.
It announced the attacks over Twitter using the hashtag #OpFreeAssange and declaring that justice.gov.uk and number10.gov.uk were ‘tangoDown’.
The group attempted to disrupt the websites by launching denial of service attacks, which overload sites by filing thousands of requests a second.
A statement on the Anonymous website explained its stance.
It read: “We will not abandon Julian Assange nor will we abandon the cause of WikiLeaks. Telling the truth is not a crime. Whistleblowers and hacktivists are not criminals.
“In the words of Julian Assange, "There is unity in the oppression. There must be absolute unity and determination in the response. Hide the truth from us, demonize us and prosecute us but expect us.”
Meanwhile, one tweet defiantly stated that Sweden and the UK governments should "expect to suck more cocks".
A Downing Street spokesperson told The Huffington Post UK, however, that the attack had not been successful.
She said: "We’ve looked at our records and found no evidence of a successful attack. We are denying a denial of service attack. Anonymous would normally do a screen grab or provide evidence of a successful attack."
When asked about the 'tangodown' claim tweeted by Anoymous, she replied: "We don’t recognise that claim."
However, the Ministry of Justice did experience some disruption.
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice told Sky news: "The Ministry of Justice website has been experiencing some disruption - this is a public information website and no sensitive data is held on it.
"Measures put in place to keep the website running mean that some visitors may be unable to access the site intermittently.”
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Julian Assange extradition(01 of12)
Open Image ModalWikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (left) talks with his legal adviser Balthasar Garcon (2nd right, partially obscured) inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London. (credit:Sean Dempsey/PA Wire)
Julian Assange extradition(02 of12)
Open Image ModalFile photo dated 02/11/11 of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange who has been inside London's Ecuador Embassy for two months today. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
Julian Assange extradition(03 of12)
Open Image ModalA pro-Julian Assange placard is seen outside the Embassy of Ecuador, in Knightsbridge, central London, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is claiming asylum in an effort to avoid extradition to Sweden. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
Julian Assange extradition(04 of12)
Open Image ModalPolice officers outside the Embassy of Ecuador, in Knightsbridge, central London, where Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is claiming asylum in an effort to avoid extradition to Sweden (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
Julian Assange extradition(05 of12)
Open Image ModalA protester stands outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, as Julian Assange spent his first full day inside since being granted political asylum by the South American countryÕs government. (credit:Lewis Whyld/PA Wire)
Julian Assange extradition(06 of12)
Open Image ModalSupporters of Julian Assange are seen outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, as Assange spent his first full day inside since being granted political asylum by the South American countryÕs government. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
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Open Image ModalA masked supporter of Julian Assange outside the Embassy of Ecuador in Knightsbridge, central London, as the diplomatic row between the UK and Ecuador over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange deepened after the Foreign Office said the Government would seek to extradite him even if he is granted political asylum by the South American nation. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
Julian Assange extradition(08 of12)
Open Image ModalPolice officers outside the Embassy of Ecuador in Knightsbridge, central London, as the diplomatic row between the UK and Ecuador over WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange deepened. (credit:Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
Julian Assange extradition(09 of12)
Open Image ModalPolice officers enter the Ecuadorian embassy in London, as Julian Assange spent his first full day inside since being granted political asylum by the South American country's government. (credit:John Stillwell/PA Wire)
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Open Image ModalPolice officers look at a man as he adjusts a balcony door stand at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on August 19, 2012. (credit:Getty)
BRITAIN-ECUADOR-SWEDEN-DIPLOMACY-JUSTICE-WIKILEAKS(11 of12)
Open Image ModalSupporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange hold placards as they demonstrate outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on August 19, 2012. (credit:Getty)
BRITAIN-ECUADOR-SWEDEN-DIPLOMACY-JUSTICE-WIKILEAKS(12 of12)
Open Image ModalSupporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange hold placards as they demonstrate outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London on August 19, 2012. (credit:Getty)