Turkish Police Detain 32 Suspects Allegedly Linked to Anonymous

Following the arrest of three alleged "Anonymous" members by Spanish authorities on Friday, Turkey's state-run news agency has reported that police have detained 32 individuals allegedly linked to the hacktivist group.

The Anatolia news agency said today that the suspects were taken into custody after conducting raids in a dozen cities for suspected ties to Anonymous.

The group recently targeted Web sites of the country's telecommunications watchdog, the prime minister's office and parliament as a protest to Turkey's plans to introduce Internet filters.

After the arrests in Spain on Friday, the group responded on Saturday with a DDoS attack against the Spanish National Police Web site.

Despite claims from the Spanish Police that they have broken up the top of the Anonymous organization in Spain, Anonymous responded, suggesting that the arrests would have little impact on the organization's continuing hacktivist efforts. “Regardless of how many times you are told, you refuse to understand. There are no leaders of Anonymous. Anonymous is not based on personal distinction,” the group posted in a statement. “You have not detained three participants of Anonymous. We have no members and we are not a group of any kind. You have, however, detained three civilians expressing themselves.”

The Spanish police said three members were arrested in Barcelona, Valencia and Almeria.

In addition to downplaying the arrests, the group defended its most popular method of disruption, saying that DDoS attacks are not much different than other forms of protest. “DDoSing is an act of peaceful protest on the Internet,” the group wrote. “The activity is no different than sitting peacefully in front of a shop denying entry. Just as is the case with traditional forms of protest.”

As opposed cybercriminals profiting from data theft, hacktivism isn’t motivated by money. Hacktivist groups like Anonymous are motivated by revenge, politics, and a desire to humiliate victims, with profit typically not a motive.