Hackers Attack RT Channel Site as WikiLeaker Trial Begins

MOSCOW, June 4 (RIA Novosti) – The AntiLeaks hacker group launched a DDoS attack on the website of Kremlin-funded English language TV channel Russia Today (RT) on Monday, making it unavailable for five hours, RT reported.

“Yes we are responsible for the attack on #RT.Com,” the group’s tweet read. “We’ve held your website down since approximately 9:45 am PST (20:45 Moscow Time). How is this breaking news?” it said, in response to RT’s “breaking news” tag at 1:45 a.m. Moscow Time.

The attack coincided with RT’s reporting on the trial of US Army soldier Bradley Manning, who leaked hundreds of thousands of classified documents to whistleblowing website WikiLeaks. The group condemns Wikileaks’ activities, which it claims are destructive.

The news channel said the attack also came as RT celebrated becoming “the first international news agency to reach one billion views on YouTube.”

“I’m sorry I spoiled your 1 Billion Views’ Special Program,” the AntiLeaks tweet said.

The same hacker group attacked the channel’s website last August, when RT featured Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as a talkshow host.

 

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