British government will not intervene to prevent extradition of computer hacker to US
By APThursday, November 26, 2009
UK gov’t will not stop extradition of hacker to US
LONDON — The British government says it will not prevent the extradition of an autistic computer hacker accused of breaking into U.S. military computers.
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said Thursday he will not intervene in the case of Gary McKinnon. U.S. prosecutors say McKinnon hacked into computers shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks.
McKinnon claims he was searching for evidence of alien life. His lawyers say he has a form of autism and is at risk of suicide if extradited.
Johnson said U.S. authorities had assured him that they would meet McKinnon’s health needs.
Britain’s High Court ruled last month that McKinnon should be extradited but his lawyers had hoped that the government would intervene. McKinnon can now still appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.
