UK to rule on extraditing alleged hacker to US

Oct 16, 2012

(AP)—Britain's Home Secretary is set to rule on whether to extradite a British hacker to America to face charges for breaking into sensitive computer networks at U.S. military and space installations.

U.S. authorities have been seeking Gary McKinnon's extradition ever since he went on an electronic rampage between 2001 and 2002, carrying off what one prosecutor described at the time as "the biggest hack of military computers ever."

The 46-year-old, who claims he had accessed the computers to hunt for evidence of extraterrestrial life, has been fighting extradition ever since. The case has dragged on for years over questions about his mental health and the fairness of the request.

Britain's Theresa May is expected to announce her decision on McKinnon's on Tuesday.

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