FBI to investigate News Corporation over 9/11 hacking allegations

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Bureau to investigate claims News of the World journalists sought to hack into phone of victims of 9/11, reports say

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The FBI has opened an investigation into allegations that News of the World journalists tried to hack into the phones of victims of the 9/11 attacks in New York.

The launch of the FBI inquiry amounts to the first official inquiry within the US into News Corporation activities. The move brings the scandal within Rupert Murdoch's British newspaper division closer to his American home and to News Corporation's headquarters in Manhattan.

The announcement of an FBI inquiry followed a mounting chorus from politicians and relatives of 9/11 victims calling for a review of the allegations. Peter King, the Republican chairman of the homeland security committee in the House of Representatives, on Wednesday wrote to the director of the FBI, Robert Mueller, and asked him to open an investigation into the 9/11 allegations.

In his letter, King said he represented a district of New York that lost more than 150 constituents in the terror attacks. "If these allegations are proven true, the conduct would merit felony charges, and any person found guilty should receive the harshest sanctions available under law."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/14/fbi-news-corp-hacking-claims/print