Hackers target Scientology

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Computer hackers reportedly unleashed a cyberattack against the Church of Scientology for trying to remove a video of U.S. star Tom Cruise from the Internet.

The hackers, calling themselves "Anonymous," began a campaign of Web, phone and fax-based attacks against the church after accusing it of "campaigns of misinformation" and "suppression of dissent," The Times of London reported Friday.

The hackers said in a YouTube video they were inspired by a video of Tom Cruise discussing the religion that recently leaked onto the Internet. The church attempted to have the video removed from all Web sites on which it was posted.

"With the leakage of your latest propaganda video into mainstream circulation, the extent of your malign influence over those who have come to trust you as leaders has been made clear to us," Anonymous said in the YouTube video.

At least one Scientology-related Web site remained down Friday after being hit by the hackers.