Lauri Love to be extradited to US on hacking charges after Home Office gives approval

Lauri Love: the Brit has Asperger syndrome and lives with his parents
Lauren Hurley/PA Wire
Tom Powell15 November 2016
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A vulnerable Briton will be extradited to the US over hacking charges after Home Secretary Amber Rudd authorised the order.

Lauri Love, who has Asperger syndrome, is alleged to have stolen huge amounts of data from US agencies including the Federal Reserve, the US Army, the Department of Defence, Nasa and the FBI, in a spate of online attacks during 2012 and 2013.

US authorities have been fighting for the 31-year-old, who lives with his parents near Newmarket in Suffolk, to face trial over charges of cyber-hacking.

His lawyers say he could face a sentence of up to 99 years in prison if found guilty.

A Home Office spokesman said: "On Monday 14 November, the Secretary of State, having carefully considered all relevant matters, signed an order for Lauri Love's extradition to the United States.

Extradition: Lauri Love could face almost 100 years in prison
PA

"Mr Love has been charged with various computer hacking offences which included targeting US military and federal government agencies."

Mr Love is expected to appeal against the decision.

Responding to the announcement, the Rev Alexander Love, Mr Love's father, said: "It was going to happen - it was inevitable - but it's still painful. I cannot begin to express how much sorrow it causes me."

He added: "All we are asking for is British justice for a British citizen."

Barry Sheerman, one of the more than 100 MPs who have signed a letter calling on US President Barack Obama to block Mr Love's extradition, said he was "deeply disappointed" at the decision.

The Labour MP for Huddersfield said: "We are still keeping up the pressure. We are getting more and more MPs to sign the letter to President Obama."

He said he is "deeply disappointed" at the decision, adding: "The pressure continues, we won't give up."

David Burrowes, Conservative MP for Enfield Southgate, said transferring Mr Love to the US, and away from his family, could prove “fatal”.

He said: “The medical evidence makes clear that Lauri Love is highly unlikely to make it to the US due to his suicidal risk. His medical needs require close links to his family, which will be cut if he goes to the US and it may well be fatal.”

America has actively pursued hackers who have accessed sensitive information, including Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who released U.S. surveillance secrets, and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Additional reporting by the Press Association

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