Scientology Denied Restraining Order Against Anonymous Protesters

A Clearwater, Florida state trial court on Thursday denied a request by the Church of Scientology for a restraining order against threatened demonstrations by a group of protesters known only as "Anonymous". The St. Petersburg Times reported that Scientology churches around the world have received numerous harassing phone calls, obscene e-mails, bomb threats and death threats. Denying Scientology's request, Circuit Judge Douglas Baird said that the church had not tied any of the 26 defendants named in its lawsuit to the threats set out in the petition. ABC News reports that on Saturday, some 75 demonstrators, disguised to hide their identity, picketed Scientology's Clearwater headquarters. According to WikiNews last January, the group known as Anonymous issued a press release and a statement on YouTube announcing their "War on Scientology".