Pentagon Takes Anonymous Threats Seriously

A new operation launched by members of the Anonymous collective has captured the attention of Pentagon officials who asked law enforcement agencies to investigate the group's actions.

According to a Forbes report, Anonymous hacktivists threatened to harass Department of Defense Press Secretary Geoff Morell and chief warrant officer Denise Barnes in retaliation to how PFC Bradley Manning is being treated at the Quantico Brig.

"The Brig has stripped PFC Manning of all of his clothing for the past three nights, and they intend to continue this practice indefinitely," Manning's counsel, David E. Coombs, announced on Saturday.

"Each night, Brig guards force PFC Manning to relinquish all of his clothing. He then lies in a cold jail cell naked until the following morning, when he is required to endure the humiliation of standing naked at attention for the morning roll call," he explained.

Anonymous members launched an offense called Operation Bradical and warned that they will "ruin" the lives of their targets if their demands are not met.

"Manning must be given sheets, blankets, any religious texts he desires, adequate reading material, clothes, and a ball," Anonymous said.

"One week. Otherwise, we continue to dox and ruin those responsible for keeping him naked, without bedding, without any of the basic amenities that were provided even to captured Nazis in WWII," the group adds.

Anonymous has proven in the past that it can make good on its threats and is also known for harassing people and organizations before.

AFP reports that the Pentagon has called for an investigation into the hacktivist group out of fears that it might disrupt online activities at the Quantico base where Private Bradley Manning is being held.

Manning has been in incarcerated since July and has had new charges brought against him last week in connection to allegedly passing national secrets to WikiLeaks. If found guilty he faces 45 years in prison.