Britain blocks extradition to US of 'Pentagon hacker' Gary McKinnon
Order withdrawn over fears that suspect would try to kill himself if sent to face charges that he accessed American military computer networks
British authorities yesterday blocked a long-standing demand for the extradition of Gary McKinnon, a computer hacker wanted in the United States to face charges of intruding into Pentagon computer networks.
McKinnon, 46, who has been facing the accusations for a decade, suffers from Asperger's syndrome and is prone to depression, British officials said.
In light of the "high risk" the suspect would commit suicide if sent to the US, Home Secretary Theresa May told Parliament that she had "withdrawn the extradition order against Mr McKinnon" to safeguard his rights.
The dramatic decision - the first time an extradition has been halted under a 2003 treaty - prompted immediate delight from those who campaigned to prevent McKinnon's removal.
"Thank you, Theresa May, from the bottom of my heart - I always knew you had the strength and courage to do the right thing," McKinnon's mother, Janis Sharp, said.
MP David Burrowes tweeted: "Compassion and pre-election promises delivered today."
US prosecutors say McKinnon gained unauthorised access to 97 government computers between February 2001 and March 2002, causing damage worth US$566,000. He insists that he hacked into Pentagon networks to seek evidence about UFOs.