Anti-nuclear activists expressed outrage Monday over cyberattacks involving a torrent of harassing emails that have nearly crippled their online activities.

Yasue Ashihara, a member of Sayonara Shimane Genpatsu Network (Goodbye-Nuke Network in Shimane), said the group received about 10,000 emails in mid-September, some of which contained hateful remarks such as: "without the massacre of anti-nuclear activists, the world will see no peace." But most messages turned out to be fake confirmations of new memberships, she said.

Noting the cyberattacks mainly targeted anti-nuclear civic groups, Ashihara said she believes whoever masterminded the harassment clearly supports atomic power. "Whoever may have perpetrated this, I consider the acts very cowardly. If someone has something to say, just say it," Ashihara said.