Britain shocked at hacking into slain girl’s phone
Gregory Katz of the AP wrote this piece which should be titled “Entire world shocked at hacking into slain girl’s phone”:
Britain’s voracious tabloids may have hit a new low: The News of the World was facing claims Tuesday that it hacked into a missing 13-year-old’s phone messages, possibly hampering a police inquiry into her disappearance.
Milly Dowler was found murdered months later, and the report that her messages were tampered with has horrified Britons. Major advertisers – including Ford UK – have pulled their ads from the paper.
…
While police were pursuing all leads and Milly’s parents were making dramatic appeals for information, a private investigator working for the News of the World allegedly hacked into her cell phone, listened to her messages and deleted some to make room for possible new ones.
Mark Lewis, a lawyer representing Milly’s parents, said Tuesday the suspected hacking may have hampered the police investigation and he plans to sue the tabloid for its interference.
It was never determined how long the teen was alive after being abducted but the tabloid’s actions reportedly came soon after her disappearance. Police realized some messages had been deleted, giving them and Milly’s parents false hope that she was still alive.
Katz and other AP writers Robert Barr, Danica Kirka, Meera Selva, David Stringer, and Cassandra Vinograd filed a follow-up report today:
The scandal, which has already touched the office of Prime Minister David Cameron, widened as the Metropolitan Police confirmed they were investigating evidence from News International that the tabloid made illegal payments to police officers in its quest for information.
The list of potential victims also grew. Revelations emerged Wednesday that the phones of relatives of people killed in the July 7, 2005, terrorist attacks on London’s transit system, as well as those tied to two more slain schoolgirls, may also have been targeted.
The true extent of the hacking is not yet clear — and may not be known for months as inquiries unfold.
Graham Foulkes, whose 22-year-old son David died in the 2005 terrorist attacks, was told by police that he was on a list of potential hacking victims.
Doucheguzzling shitmongers.
This is nice, though:
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.