Authorities in the Netherlands have arrested a 16-year-old boy suspected of being involved in cyber attacks on both MasterCard and Visa’s websites.
The attacks were supposedly started around the world in the past few days to show support to whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks.
The teenager was arrested in his home in The Hague, said Dutch authorities. It added that the suspect admitted to some involvement in the attacks.
Police seized computers and data-storage devices from the boy’s house. He remains in custody and will appear in court today.
MasterCard and Visa Europe both suspended payments to WikiLeaks and it appears their websites were targeted as part of a worldwide effort by hackers to show sympathy to the website and exact revenge on its behalf.
The people behind the attacks appear to be an unconnected group calling themselves “Anonymous.” It isn’t clear who is in charge of or speaks for that group.
The website’s founder, Australian journalist Julian Assange, remains in police custody in London following his arrest. He awaits a hearing next week in relation to allegations of sexual misconduct in Sweden.
