Dutch Boy Arrested as a Hacker against Visa, MasterCard, Police Say He Is Sympathetic to WikiLeaks

In the latest turn of events with the unfolding WikiLeaks saga, a 16-year-old Dutch boy was arrested by Dutch police for his alleged role in attacks on MasterCard and Visa websites, after they cut off services to the embattled WikiLeaks’ site.

Police say the boy was one of many sympathizers with WikiLeaks, as it publishes secret diplomatic cables, and the action by the credit card companies has likely hurt the finances of the controversial website.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the group behind online attacks appears to be “loose-knit.” It is not clear how well organized they are, but they include those with strong computer skills and appear to be seeking revenge for the global crackdown on WikiLeaks.

Dutch police said the boy is affiliated with the larger group of WikiLeaks sympathizers.

They are allegedly responsible for “denial-of-service attacks,” where computers “flood a server to prevent it from displaying a Web page,” The Journal reported, quoting a Dutch official.

Dutch authorities said the attacks are part of an online effort named, “Operation Payback,” says The Journal.

The police were continuing to investigate the online attacks, Thursday, and may be looking for other suspects from the Netherlands.

When police arrested the boy, they seized computers and data-storage devices from his home.

The unnamed boy is to be presented before a Dutch judge on Friday.

A number of companies have stopped any relationship with WikiLeaks, such as: Amazon.com, PayPal (News - Alert) and Swiss bank PostFinance.

In addition, attacks have been launched at organizations and individuals connected with Julian Assange’s personal legal troubles, The Journal reports. He is WikiLeak’s founder. The Swedish prosecutor's office, which is investigating Assange’s role in two sex assaults, and a lawyer representing the two women victims who are making the allegations against him, said their websites were having problems. Assange is in a British jail awaiting an extradition hearing.

The WikiLeaks’ site has been the subject of many online attacks in recent days and there are numerous reports of sporadic service, TMCnet reports.