WikiLeaks supporters attack PostFinance site

Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who was arrested in London on Tuesday, have blocked the website of the financial services arm of Swiss Post, PostFinance.

This is in reaction to PostFinance’s decision on Monday to close Assange’s account because of “false indications regarding his place of residence”; Assange had declared Geneva his place of residence.

A foreigner holding a PostFinance account must either reside in Switzerland or near the Swiss border, have Swiss business dealings or own Swiss property.

PostFinance said it would now try to contact Assange to find out the name of an account to which it can transfer the money. If it cannot be transferred, it will be placed in a blocked account until claimed by someone with a legal right to it.

The PostFinance site went down at around 10.30 pm local time on Monday and was still closed at noon on Tuesday.

The 39-year-old Australian surrendered to police in London on Tuesday as part of a Swedish sex-crimes investigation, the latest blow to an organisation that faces legal, financial and technological challenges after releasing hundreds of secret United States diplomatic cables.

He later said he would challenge his extradition to Sweden, but a British judge denied him bail.

Judge Howard Riddle told Assange that he had “substantial grounds” to believe he wouldn’t turn up for subsequent proceedings. He then put Assange into British custody ahead of an extradition hearing.