MOSCOW, October 13 (RIA Novosti) – A group of hackers known as Anonymous followed up on their threat given on Friday and leaked data from Chinese government websites, South China Morning Post reported Monday.
The information released by the hackers included telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, as well as personal IP addresses and user names of Zhejiang Province’s Ningbo Free Trade Zone website and Changxing County's website for job seekers.
The Hong Kong-based newspaper notes that the motives behind the choice of the two websites as hacking targets remain unclear.
According to the newspaper, the move was made in support of the Occupy Central with Love and Peace protests in Hong Kong which began on September 27.
The first warning was issued on October 2 in a public video note, in which the hacking group declared a cyberwar on the Chinese government and police because of their use of tear gas against protesters in Hong Kong.
The demonstrators claim Beijing has gone back on its pledge to allow universal suffrage in Hong Kong, which was promised a high degree of autonomy when it was handed back to China by Britain in 1997.
On October 3, the peaceful demonstrations turned violent when opponents of the protests started assaulting the crowd. More than 50 people were injured, according to local health officials. At least 19 people have also been arrested following the clashes.
On the night of October 4, thousands of people took to the streets after the city administration issued an ultimatum to the protestors to clear out before October 6.
On October 12, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying said in an interview with a local television channel that the protesters had an "almost zero chance" of success in securing free elections.
