Former NYC Cop: ‘News of the World’ Tried to Hack 9/11 Victims’ Phones
- Posted on July 11, 2011 at 11:20am by
Billy Hallowell
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News of the World owner Rupert Murdoch.
The News of the World newspaper controversy has left many scratching their heads after questionable allegations led to the 168-year-old newspaper’s closure. This tabloid, owned and operated by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, has been accused of hacking into the cell phones of celebrities, politicians — even missing schoolgirls and grieving family members. Now, it seems the lines of depravity and journalistic integrity may have been further crossed with new reports emerging that the tabloid purportedly sought to hack 9/11 victims’ cell phones.
A former New York City cop has come forward, claiming that News of the World reporters approached him and asked for help in securing 9/11 victims’ cell phone records. The Daily Mirror has more:
…it was claimed 9/11 victims may have had their mobiles tapped by News of the World reporters…
[The former cop] alleged he was contacted by News of the World journalists who said they would pay him to retrieve the private phone records of the dead.
Now working as a private investigator, the ex-officer claimed reporters wanted the victim’s phone numbers and details of the calls they had made and received in the days leading up to the atrocity.
Watch an WABC-TV news report below for more:
According to The Associated Press, the former police officer alleges the paper wanted to tap into private voice mails left by victims in the final moments of their lives, and by loved ones desperately searching for friends and family in the moments after the attacks. The police officer, citing insensitivity, decided to turn down the newspaper’s offer. The Sydney Morning Herald writes:
“The investigator said the journalists seemed particularly interested in getting the phone records belonging to the British victims of the attacks.”
Mr Murdoch made a mercy dash to London on the weekend as his News Corporation company shares took a dive and his takeover plans for Britain’s digital broadcasting network, BSkyB, appeared in tatters.
His entire media empire has been tainted by revelations News of the World reporters allegedly hacked mobile phone accounts of murdered teenager Milly Dowler, families of dead British soldiers, politicians and celebrities.
Although News of the World has officially shuttered, the potential that 9/11 victims cell phone records were breached is likely to create further complications for Murdoch and his media empire. Sadly, these allegations, if substantiated, showcase the desperate — not to mention immoral – measures media outlets will take in order to secure riveting headlines.
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dontbotherme
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 10:16pmI’m glad Murdoch shut that paper down. Evil works were stopped.
Report Post »FoxholeAtheist
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 4:52pmOnly after he was caught. Hey, didn’t Beck work for him?
Report Post »joedog73
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 8:49pmUnethical journalists, shocking! There have been examples of this for years: the exploding gas tanks on Chevy trucks, the fake George W Bush story by Rather, anything on Media Matters.
Report Post »Just remember one fact: This paper was a tabloid!!!!!! Not exactly a hard news outlet.
jill098
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 10:05pmOne that Rupert owned since 1969. The most successful paper in the UK! Something to think about Joe!
Report Post »Questions for those who support Fox: Do you think it’s ok to hack voicemails of a murdered girl and delete vms, raising hope to the parents that she is still alive? Not to mention deleting vms police had yet to investigate? Do you think it’s ok to hack fallen soldiers vms and email and those of their families? Do you think it’s ok to hack vms of the 7/7 bombing victims and their families? Do you think it’s ok to bribe police for information? Do you think it’s ok to pay hush money to hacked victims like James Murdoch did? Do you think it’s ok to admit you bribed police and are still employed by Murdoch? Murdoch was asked by press on Sun. and he said his first priority is Brooks. Do you think it’s ok to lie to police and withhold evidence? Do you think it’s ok to lie under oath about the hacking? Do you think it’s ok to call your bank and saying it is you to get bank info? Do you think it‘s ok to get medical records of the former PM’s baby for a story? Do you think it’s ok to try to bribe a NYC cop after 9/11 to get victims phone numbers to hack? If you can answer yes to any of those questions, you have a serious problem.
Deuteronomy22
Posted on July 12, 2011 at 4:19amOnce again a Blazer shows his ignorance. Tabloid: a newspaper with compact page size smaller than broadsheet. In Europe a tabloid does not equal low journalism. Typical of the readers here who don’t understand what theory means in scientific terminology.
Report Post »CowboyTony7
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 6:45pmSabotaged!
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 6:18pmMurdoch has 9/11 issues
Report Post »hacker2000
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 3:49pmJUST a DESPICABLE piece of human waste that acts the way he LOOKS.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 3:35pmTheir news is out of control. Our news agencies are no better. They are liars and almost exclusively owned by Soros and/or the democrat party/communist. Our alphabet news agencies are propagandist,…not news people. I have no doubt that they have hacked phones also. Perhaps not as ofter but I will bet the have. They are ruthless socialist/communist with no scruples .., just like their European counterparts.
Report Post »quinteastwood
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 2:42pmMeasures which will effect the lives of millions,born and unborn,are now before us.We must expect a great expense of blood to attain them.But we must always remember that a free CONSTITUTION,of civil government can not be purchased at too dear a rate as there is nothing on this side of Jerusalem of greater importance to mankind.
Some people have given AMERICA a grim outlook for the future,but where they see apocalypse,I see hope.
I see a new nation,ready to take it’s place in the world,not an empire,but a REPUBLIC.A republic of laws,not men.
We are in the very midst of Revolution,the most complete and unexpected and remarkable of any in the history of the world.
How few of the human race have ever,had an opportunity of choosing a system of government,for themselves,and their children.I am not without apprehensions ,gentlemen,but the end we have in site is more than worth all the means.I believe citizens that the time has come.
My judgement approves that this measure and my whole heart is in it.All that I have,all that I am,and all that I hope in this life,I am now ready to stake upon it.
While I live,let me have a Country.A FREE COUNTRY.
Join “The March For Freedom” j e r r y b 5 3 5 3 at y a h o o dot c o m
10 and counting..on social media 10 becomes 1000,1000 becomes 10,000 WE CAN do this PATRIOTS
Report Post »encinom
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 2:39pmSo the corrupt soul of Fox News is coming to light.
Report Post »patriotwoman
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 1:42pmIf this was going on in Murdock’s company just think of how much bigger the cesspool is at CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN and MSLSD. Someone on this side of the pond needs to kick over a few rocks and expose all the media cockroaches in America.
Clean ‘em up or shut ’em down.
Report Post »GrumpyCat
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 1:03pmGeorge Soros is jealous because he didn’t think of it first.
Or did he?
Report Post »Sarah Louise Palin - Part Time Politician, Full Time Parasite
Posted on July 13, 2011 at 9:13amGrumpycat – The Blaze/Fox news conspiracies have gotten to you. You are now a GB/Fox robot. Why isn‘t Fox or GB’s blaze continuing to report on the fall of Newscorp? Very telling indeed!!!!!
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 12:45pmSo if the cop thought that the offer of money for help in getting victims cell phones records seemed insensitive, he didn’t feel it was insensitive enough to report it to his commander.
Report Post »TH30PH1LUS
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 12:43pmYou mean there are soul-less “journalists” out there who would slither through a sewer for a juicy nugget to make a buck? My world is shattered.
Report Post »Joshua7
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 12:18pmGiven the things that were going on at News of the World I guess I’m too surprised but I do find it a little strange that he is chosing to reveal this ten years latter.
Report Post »Spqr1
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 12:14pmProof that Fox is owned an run by heartless criminals, only interested in money.
Report Post »Joshua7
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 12:21pmIs there any proof that Murdoch had anything to do with this?
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 12:33pmDon’t like heartless criminals only interested in money? NO one does.
Report Post »I‘m sure you WON’T be donating to Obama’s campaign then.
Spqr1
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 1:17pmNOT firing the people involved makes him complicit, and the fact that he’s tolerated this kind of behavior from his employees in the past…….
Report Post »patriotwoman
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 1:37pmMurdock shut the paper down. So yeah, he DID fire them. And they’re going to have a hard time finding work now. Unless of course they apply at any of the MSM outlets in the US.
Report Post »Spqr1
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 4:21pmHe’s in charge, it’s the institutional culture that he fosters.
Report Post »Spqr1
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 5:55pmHe’s in charge of the operation, with a reputation of being VERY hands on. His son could be arrested any minute. Face it, the man is a criminal, running a criminal operation of non-journalists. THAT INCLUDES FOX!
Report Post »ProgressivesAreEvil
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 9:13pmHmm you may have a point…I guess we should assume Obomba knew about “Fast and Furious” as well….Lets start the impeachment process immediately.
Report Post »Baikonur
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 12:08pmA glimpse into how Fox and its sister companies are run. Explains a lot.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 12:15pmTell us, Baikonur, what does it explain?
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 2:24pmNO, just the ethics of a few ‘reporters’ in one subsidiary of a media empire. When Rupert Murdoch found out his action was apparently decisive.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 2:41pmIts not a few reporters when over in UK head execs are being lead away in chains.
Report Post »joe conservative
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 11:56amThis goes to show how far out of control the media is. I’m sure this is nothing new, they were just the first to get caught. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2OWGylJ2OM
Report Post »Smug
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 11:54amMost Europeans are socialists and atheists so why are we surprised, that they have no ethics or moral code. This is just business as usual. Look at the ones in the MSM here in our country. Because he is a man of ethics Rupert Murdoch chose to shut the whole damn paper down. So why are they still whining? It was the reporters not Murdoch who were to blame…………….MSSMUG
Report Post »Alternative
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 3:26pmAh ah ah LOL. Murdock has high ethics. Very funny!
I’d rather be a European socialist and an Atheist than an American Taliban (Christian) fascist any day!
Murdock had planned to shut that paper down as he is headed towards more digital than print. He used this as the excuse. The laid off workers should reopen it a s a worker owned paper.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 3:31pmTrue!
Report Post »jill098
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 6:03pmThe UK has a Conservative Prime Minister Cameron, who Murdoch helped get elected! Church of England ring a bell?
Report Post »CaveatEmpty
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 11:53am“The police officer .. decided to turn down the newspaper’s offer. Now working as a private investigator ..”
Report Post »Obviously now has some experience in how the game’s played. The Daily Mirror pays better.
michaelmoron
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 11:35amCan we all just agree that ALL extremely wealthy individuals are Absolutely Powerful, and that Monumental Power, absolutely corrupts? I knew FOX went main-stream when they Used the USAMA spelling. I know all about how both are accepted. That is not the point. They never referred to him as Usama until he was killed. I haven’t watched FOX since.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 11:34amThe WAR ON FOX goes nuclear.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 11:25amDisgusting. Period.
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 2:53pmMr. M should have known better and made sure a USA conservative was the editor.He bought a nest of vipers and probably knew it or at least assumed so.
Report Post »jill098
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 6:01pm@Turkey Murdoch bought that paper in 1969!
Report Post »jill098
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 6:18pmYou mean like Les Hinton, Rupert’s right hand man? The one who runs Dow Jones? Hinton – an employee of Murdoch for 52 years.
Report Post »Hinton, who then ran NI, which is owned by News Corp, spoke to the Commons culture committee looking into the Goodman affair on 6 March 2007. He was asked whether the News of the World had “carried out a full, rigorous internal inquiry“ into phone hacking and whether he was ”absolutely convinced” the practice was limited to a single reporter.
The Guardian understands that Hinton was among five NI executives who had access to the report. The then News of the World editor, Colin Myler, and legal counsel, Tom Crone, are also understood to have seen it.
Les Hinton, Rupert Murdoch’s lifelong lieutenant and closest adviser, faces questions over whether he saw a 2007 internal News International report, which found evidence that phone hacking was more widespread than admitted by the company, before he testified to a parliamentary committee that the practice was limited to a single reporter.
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 11:22am.
Report Post »I think was Hacked too…. Somebody send me a check…………
Obama Snake Oil Co
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 11:57amHas Obama Blamed Bush for this yet? Its just a matter of time.
Report Post »GrannyATL
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 12:07pmOkay, so how many of you recall that GB said Soros was out to destroy Murdock? They can’t destroy Fox, so they’re hitting him elsewhere.
Stand tall, Mr. Murdock. The truth has no agenda.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 2:40pmGrannyATL
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 12:07pm
Okay, so how many of you recall that GB said Soros was out to destroy Murdock? They can’t destroy Fox, so they’re hitting him elsewhere.
Stand tall, Mr. Murdock. The truth has no agenda.
Report Post »________________________________________________
Sorry, Soros has nothin got do with this. This is just the pure evil of Fox coming to light. Fox execs arrested. Beck was a part of the evil empire.
JRook
Posted on July 11, 2011 at 4:27pmBut similar to Enron, no possibility that Murdoch was aware of these activities. Can’t imagine how they got information and details that no one else had, particularly after they had been accused of similar acts before. Criminal charges should always start at the top and make the top executives prove why they didn’t know as opposed to making the prosecutors prove they did. Given his overt involvement in editorial policy at his media holdings, he definitely knew of the practice and made sure the lawyers provided fail safe mechanisms. I’m sure the editor that has been arrested will be paid well to take the fall.
Report Post »