US hackers attack website calling for probe into Fort Detrick biolab

A website launched to collect petitions demanding an investigation into the Fort Detrick biolab was subject to two cyber attacks from US-based hackers on Saturday, a move its operator said exposed the fear of certain forces in the US after the appeal for the probe gained massive traction.

In an online statement, the Global Times newspaper, which launched the petition, said it strongly condemned the cyber attacks, and Chinese netizens have the full right to conduct a petition.

The website added that its servers withstood the attacks, and only minor damage was caused, even though it warned that more attacks were possible.

"We are fully prepared and will try to withstand the attacks to protect the petition and the right of expression of Chinese netizens," it said.

As of Sunday, over 11.4 million people had signed the petition that urges the World Health Organization to conduct a thorough investigation into the Fort Detrick laboratory, which was shut down by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention amid safety concerns over its research involving dangerous microbes like the Ebola virus in August 2019. The newspaper said it expects more people will join the petition, including people from other countries.