Anonymous, the hacking collective known for its high profile attacks on government and corporate websites, have posted a YouTube video declaring an imminent attack on the New York Stock Exchange website.

In support of the Occupy Wall Street protests, which began on 17th September - and in direct response to the large scale arrests carried out by the New York City Police Department - Anonymous has issued a two minute video rallying its members for a "DDoS attack" on the Stock Exchange website at 3:30 p.m. ET on 10th October.

It’s the same tactic that the hacking outfit has used on numerous websites, including Visa.com in 2010, where it flooded the servers and brought them crashing down. It’s believed that the attack, if successful, won’t affect trading on Wall Street, which runs through a separate data centre. The website, however, does host other important information, such as trading notices and market activity.

"A new civil rights movement has begun," says the narrator of the YouTube video, referring to the ongoing mass demonstration on Wall Street against financial greed and corruption. "You now have an opportunity to make a difference. Join the protests. Organize your own. Watch online. Be a part of the movement."

Via AnonNews.org, Anonymous has also posted a message to the media declaring the "war against the New York Stock Exchange."

"We will no longer ignore corruption or tolerate inaction. We will not labor for your leisure.
We can not stay silent as we are being exploited in the name of profit.
We will not stand by and watch the system take over our way of life.
We the people shall stand against the government’s inaction."
We the people will not be witnesses to your corruption and ill gotten profits. "

The message concludes with: "We therefore declare a popular war against the New York Stock Exchange. The 10th of October is a day that will never be forgotten."

The Wall Street protests began with just a handful of demonstrators on 17th September, who have now been joined by thousands of people, including 15 of America’s largest labour unions and other protest groups. Mass arrests have been made and some protesters have claimed police brutality. On Saturday, 700 protesters were arrested and given disorderly conduct summonses.

The Occupy Wall Street march takes place every year, but this is the largest and most organised so far, with protesters setting up camp in a local park and unions providing food and medical supplies for those who need them. "We're in it together, and we're in it for the long haul," said one protester as the march continues across Lower Manhattan.