German police raid The Pirate Party

THE GERMAN AUTHORITIES have seized control of the country's Pirate Party servers and stormed its hosting provider's offices.

"The disconnection of all servers is a massive intrusion into the communications infrastructure of the sixth largest party in Germany," said The Pirate Party in a statement, before adding that the timing of the action was particularly unfortunate.

"Considering the state elections taking place in Bremen in two days, this caused a severe political damage, which the Board condemns decisively."

Loz Kaye, the party's leader in the UK condemned the action of the German police and added that it was misplaced and overbearing.

"I would like to add my condemnation," he said. "A French investigation into an attack on the IT infrastructure of the energy group EDF resulted in German authorities disconnecting and then confiscating the German Pirate Party's servers. This had the effect of partially crippling the party two days ahead of state elections in Bremen. The party itself was not the target of the raid and is instead an innocent victim of these actions by the German authorities."

Also possibly suspicious is the revelation that The Pirate Party's public relations server was also taken down, which also displeased Mr Kaye.

"I note also that the action was aimed at PiratenPad, an online tool that Pirate Party UK also uses for preparing documents and press releases. This raid had the potential to disrupt our communications, and therefore hinder the work of a UK party registered with the Electoral Commission," he added.

"I am in full agreement with Rick Falkvinge, the former head [of] the Swedish Pirate Party in his suggestion that 'Doing this to a democratic party - Germany's sixth largest, actually - two days before an election is nothing short of a democratic sabotage'." µ