British government delays hacker’s extradition deadline to consider new medical evidence

UK government delays hacker extradition deadline

LONDON — The British government says it will consider new medical evidence before approving the extradition of a computer hacker wanted in the U.S. on charges of breaking into military computers.

U.S. prosecutors accuse Gary McKinnon of hacking into dozens of computers shortly after Sept. 11, 2001. McKinnon says he was looking for evidence of UFOs.

This month, Britain’s High Court ruled the 43-year-old should be extradited. The government gave him two weeks to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

McKinnon’s lawyers say he has a form of autism and is at risk of suicide if extradited.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said Monday he had “stopped the clock ticking on the representation to the European Court” because of new medical evidence about the autism.