Anonymous says it hacked LAPD website but police deny it

The Los Angeles Police Department is denying claims by online hacker group Anonymous that it had attacked and brought down the department’s website.

“Anonymous Operation USA | Target: DOWN | https://www.LAPDonline.org | #Anonymous #OpUSA #FTP #Revolution,” the group tweeted.

But LAPD Sgt. Frank Preciado was quick to refute the group’s claims.

“No they didn’t,” he told the Los Angeles Times.

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Anonymous’s claim of an attack came after the group began using a Twitter account to criticize and mock the department’s manhunt of Chris Dorner, the former LAPD officer wanted in the killings of three people.

The group also sent a tweet expressing its willingness to assist the accused killer with distributing any information about the LAPD.

“Dormer needs to be placed in custody without being killed. He also may have information he wants leaked; we will leak it if he desires,” the group said in a message posted on Twitter.

Additionally, a note was found on the website PasteBin.com posted by Anonymous about Dorner. In it, the group expresses empathy for Dorner and criticism of the LAPD -- particularly for the department’s shooting of two innocent women during their manhunt.

Anonymous is an online activist hacker group made up of members from all over the world and in the past has taken responsibility for several cyber attacks on government bodies and large companies, including the FBI and Visa.

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