A peaceful protest will take place today outside the Home Office in support of computer hacker Gary McKinnon. Mr McKinnon, 42, has been accused of causing $700,000 worth of damage when he hacked into US naval, Nasa and defence systems from his Crouch E

A PEACEFUL protest will take place today outside the Home Office in support of computer hacker Gary McKinnon.

Mr McKinnon, 42, has been accused of causing $700,000 worth of damage when he hacked into US naval, Nasa and defence systems from his Crouch End home in 2002.

Last week Mr McKinnon, a former Highgate Wood pupil, lost his appeal to prevent extradition to the US where he faces up to 60 years in prison.

Lucy Clarke, Mr McKinnon's girlfriend, who is organising the demonstration, said: "The point of the protest is to show support for Gary. What happened to Gary could have happened to anybody."

Mr McKinnon, who was recently diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome, will be extradited within the next few weeks.

The protest will take place at the Home Office in Marsham Street, Victoria, at 4pm.