Hacking keeps Boston police website offline

BOSTON -- The Boston Police Department's website remains offline for the second day in a row after members of the hacking collective Anonymous defaced it.

People trying to access the website were redirected to the department's Facebook page Saturday, a day after the hackers posted rapper KRS-One "Sound of Da Police" music video that criticizes police brutality.

A message posted on the website Friday said, "Anonymous hacks Boston Police website in retaliation for police brutality at OWS." That's apparently a reference to Occupy Wall Street.

A police spokeswoman on Saturday declined to say why the website has not been restored and refused to discuss measures authorities were taking to bolster the site.

Anonymous is a collection of Internet enthusiasts, pranksters and activists whose targets have included Visa and MasterCard, the Church of Scientology and law enforcement agencies.

(Copyright (c) 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)