Phone hacking scandal grips Britain
Source: Agencies |
July 7, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BRITAIN'S tabloid phone hacking scandal dominated the airways yesterday as it swelled to allegedly involve more missing schoolgirls and the families of London terror victims. Lawmakers held an emergency debate, companies hastily pulled their ads and the prime minister demanded two new inquiries.
News International, the British linchpin of Rupert Murdoch's global News Corp media empire, was under intense pressure due to its News of the World tabloid, which has admitted hacking into the phones of celebrities but now stands accused of possibly interfering with police investigations into missing girls who were found murdered.
The News of the World had reportedly hacked into the cell phone of missing 13-year-old Milly Dowler in 2002, deleting messages and giving her parents and police false hope that the girl was still alive.
Milly had been abducted and murdered, and the search for her transfixed Britain at the time.
Prime Minister David Cameron called for inquiries into the News of the World's behavior as well as into the failure of the original police inquiry to uncover the latest allegations now emerging.
London's Metropolitan Police, meanwhile, confirmed they were investigating evidence from News International that some officers illegally accepted payments from its tabloid in return for information.
"It is absolutely disgusting what has taken place," Cameron said, speaking in London's House of Commons shortly before an emergency debate opened yesterday. He said the scandal had entered a new phase now that it included murder and possibly terror victims, but added any inquiry into the News of the World would have to wait until the police investigation was concluded.
The hacking case broadened with revelations that the tabloid's operatives are also suspected of hacking into the phones of victims of the July 7, 2005, terrorist attacks on London's transit system that killed 52 people.
Graham Foulkes, father of one of the 2005 victims, said police told him he was on a list of names of potential hacking victims.
"I just felt stunned and horrified," Foulkes said. "I find it hard to believe someone could be so wicked and so evil, and that someone could work for an organization that even today is trying to defend what they see as normal practices."
Foulkes, who plans to mourn his son on today's anniversary of the attack, said a completely independent investigation is needed because new information that surfaced yesterday shows the police were compromised by accepting "bribes" from the tabloid.
Foulkes said Rebekah Brooks, the one-time News of the World editor who is now chief executive of News International, must resign immediately. Brooks has said she didn't know about the hacking and will remain in charge.
Several companies hastily pulled ads from the News of the World amid the public disgust.
Virgin Holidays canceled several ads due to run in the Sunday newspaper this week. Car makers Ford UK and Vauxhall and Halifax Bank also said they have suspended advertising in the tabloid.
Bloggers have urged advertisers to boycott the News of the World and all other media outlets of its owners. Mumsnet - a popular online community for mothers - on Tuesday removed ads from broadcaster Sky after its members complained.
News International, the British linchpin of Rupert Murdoch's global News Corp media empire, was under intense pressure due to its News of the World tabloid, which has admitted hacking into the phones of celebrities but now stands accused of possibly interfering with police investigations into missing girls who were found murdered.
The News of the World had reportedly hacked into the cell phone of missing 13-year-old Milly Dowler in 2002, deleting messages and giving her parents and police false hope that the girl was still alive.
Milly had been abducted and murdered, and the search for her transfixed Britain at the time.
Prime Minister David Cameron called for inquiries into the News of the World's behavior as well as into the failure of the original police inquiry to uncover the latest allegations now emerging.
London's Metropolitan Police, meanwhile, confirmed they were investigating evidence from News International that some officers illegally accepted payments from its tabloid in return for information.
"It is absolutely disgusting what has taken place," Cameron said, speaking in London's House of Commons shortly before an emergency debate opened yesterday. He said the scandal had entered a new phase now that it included murder and possibly terror victims, but added any inquiry into the News of the World would have to wait until the police investigation was concluded.
The hacking case broadened with revelations that the tabloid's operatives are also suspected of hacking into the phones of victims of the July 7, 2005, terrorist attacks on London's transit system that killed 52 people.
Graham Foulkes, father of one of the 2005 victims, said police told him he was on a list of names of potential hacking victims.
"I just felt stunned and horrified," Foulkes said. "I find it hard to believe someone could be so wicked and so evil, and that someone could work for an organization that even today is trying to defend what they see as normal practices."
Foulkes, who plans to mourn his son on today's anniversary of the attack, said a completely independent investigation is needed because new information that surfaced yesterday shows the police were compromised by accepting "bribes" from the tabloid.
Foulkes said Rebekah Brooks, the one-time News of the World editor who is now chief executive of News International, must resign immediately. Brooks has said she didn't know about the hacking and will remain in charge.
Several companies hastily pulled ads from the News of the World amid the public disgust.
Virgin Holidays canceled several ads due to run in the Sunday newspaper this week. Car makers Ford UK and Vauxhall and Halifax Bank also said they have suspended advertising in the tabloid.
Bloggers have urged advertisers to boycott the News of the World and all other media outlets of its owners. Mumsnet - a popular online community for mothers - on Tuesday removed ads from broadcaster Sky after its members complained.
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