Anonymous 'to target' Canadian Grand Prix

Cyber-anarchist group Anonymous are threatening another attack on Formula One during next week's Canadian Grand Prix in support of protesting Quebec students.

The internet hacking organisation successfully managed to disrupt the official Formula One website throughout last month's Bahrain Grand Prix.

The attack, under the title of 'Operation Bahrain', was carried out on the basis of what they perceived as "the incredible human rights abuses of the Bahrain regime".

On this occasion Anonymous are firmly behind the students across Quebec voicing their anger against their government's proposed hike in tuition fees, with protests now into their 107th day.

Notably, Anonymous are against perceived human rights injustices following an emergency law introduced on May 18 known as Bill 78 that "restricts freedom of assembly, protest, or picketing on or near university grounds and anywhere in Quebec without prior police approval".

Anonymous have already claimed responsibility for shutting down Quebec government and police websites since the introduction of Bill 78 that has allowed police to act, sending arrests soaring to over 2,500.

In their latest statement, Anonymous feel disrupting the Canadian Grand Prix weekend, one of the most popular events on the F1 calendar, will send out another firm message to Quebec premier Jean Charest.

The statement read: "As we did in Bahrain, Anonymous intends to wreck Mr Ecclestone's little party.

"Beginning on June 7 and running through race day on June 10, Anonymous will take down all the F1 websites, dump the servers and databases and wreck anything else F1-related we can find on the internet.

"We would like to remind anyone considering attending this abominable race that last time Anonymous found all the spectators' personal data, including credit card numbers un-encrypted on F1 servers.

"Anonymous will be among many protesters targeting the Grand Prix.

"A number of students are also set to protest, something that the F1's organisers will be wary of, considering the race could bring around 100million Canadian dollars (£62million) to the area.

"We highly suggest you join the boycott of the F1 in Montreal and we certainly recommend you not purchase any tickets or F1 merchandise online.

"You have been warned."

PA