WASHINGTON, April 11 (UPI) -- A U.S. hacker says he's been disrupting online forums used by al-Qaida sympathizers, Fox News reported Wednesday.
The hacker describes himself as a grandfather and goes by the handle "The Raptor" as he pursues what he calls his own war on terror, the network said.
Among his claimed victories are last month's assault on al-Qaida's main forum, Shamukh Islamic Network. He also has gone after other sites, including Ansar al-Mujahideen. His handiwork kept them offline for two weeks.
"Just another infidel defending cyberspace for God and country," The Raptor said of himself on Twitter.
When contacted via Twitter by FoxNews.com, he said he is a grandfather and retired military man with a child serving active duty. Fox said it could not confirm his story independently and he provided no other information about himself.
"Our kids keep getting killed because jihadists make better bombs than they do cupcakes," The Raptor told Fox. "Anything I can do to disrupt and demoralize the enemy is worthwhile and on the table.
"Some say I and others like me are Crusaders; that we hate Islam or desire to offend Allah. That is absolutely and fundamentally wrong. Some of my best friends are Muslims, and I love them. They don't wish me harm, and I would give my life to defend them. This has only to do with violent criminals who cloak themselves in the wool of a good and peaceful religion to bring death and destruction to the world."
