Down Sec hacking trial begins in Brussels

A key member of the Belgian hacking collective Down Sec, which has claimed responsibility for several high-profile cyber-attacks on public bodies, corporations and the media, has gone in trial in Brussels.

BNP Paribas Fortis bank and the nuclear safety body AFCN are among the organisations that have registered as victims of Down Sec Belgium.

Several addresses were raided by police in Liège and Brussels and computer equipment seized between April and December 2016.

Since October 2015, several websites of public institutions, political parties, companies and news organisations have been the victims of computer attacks claimed by the hacker group.

The trial which began in Brussels criminal court relates to Down Sec Belgium's spokesperson, who made an appeal on Facebook for people to attend the hearing in his support. The group has said its hacking is targeted at denouncing the action of governments and big banks, among others.