British hacker loses extradition appeal

Gary McKinnon could face life in jail

30 July 2008 17:45 GMT / By Katie Scott

A British hacker who broke into top US military computers has lost his appeal against extradition.

Glasgow-born Gary McKinnon is accused of hacking 97 US military and NASA computers.

He has already admitted breaking into the computers from his London home but claims he was seeking information on UFOs.

However, the US government claims he committed a malicious crime - the biggest military computer hack ever.

McKinnon has been warned by US authorities that if he doesn't co-operate, he could be treated as a terrorist with a maximum jail sentence of life.

They argue that his intention was intimidating the US government, and US officials also allege that the hacker altered and deleted files at a naval air station not long after the 11 September attacks in 2001, "rendering critical systems inoperable".

However, McKinnon's lawyers argued before the Law Lords that this was not their client's intention.

A statement by solicitors for McKinnon reads: "Gary McKinnon is neither a terrorist nor a terrorist sympathiser".

"His case could have been properly dealt with by our own prosecuting authorities. We believe that the British government declined to prosecute him to enable the US government to make an example of him."

"American officials involved in this case have stated that they want to see him 'fry'."

"The consequences he faces if extradited are both disproportionate and intolerable."

The House of Lords threw out the appeal arguing that there is no evidence that any threats have been made by US authorities against McKinnon.

The hacker is now going to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights.