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FBI to open 9/11 victims 'phone-hacking' investigation FBI to open 9/11 victims 'phone-hacking' investigation
(40 minutes later)
The FBI is investigating reports that Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation sought to hack the phones of victims of the 9/11 attacks.The FBI is investigating reports that Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation sought to hack the phones of victims of the 9/11 attacks.
The criminal probe follows calls from a growing number of senators and a senior Republican for an investigation.The criminal probe follows calls from a growing number of senators and a senior Republican for an investigation.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr Murdoch defended the company's handling of the crisis.In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr Murdoch defended the company's handling of the crisis.
Meanwhile, Mr Murdoch and his son James have agreed to answer UK MPs' questions on the hacking scandal next week.Meanwhile, Mr Murdoch and his son James have agreed to answer UK MPs' questions on the hacking scandal next week.
'Appropriate action''Appropriate action'
The Commons media committee issued summonses after the pair initially declined to appear.The Commons media committee issued summonses after the pair initially declined to appear.
Also in London on Thursday, a former News of the World executive editor, Neil Wallis, became the ninth person involved with the newspaper to be detained by police probing phone hacking.Also in London on Thursday, a former News of the World executive editor, Neil Wallis, became the ninth person involved with the newspaper to be detained by police probing phone hacking.
The Murdoch-owned Sunday tabloid was shut down last week amid the mounting scandal over the alleged hacking of phones belonging to crime victims, politicians and celebrities.The Murdoch-owned Sunday tabloid was shut down last week amid the mounting scandal over the alleged hacking of phones belonging to crime victims, politicians and celebrities.
FBI sources told US media on Thursday it was looking into claims that phones belonging to victims of the September 11 attacks could have been hacked by News of the World journalists.FBI sources told US media on Thursday it was looking into claims that phones belonging to victims of the September 11 attacks could have been hacked by News of the World journalists.
A spokeswoman for the US justice department, which oversees the FBI, declined to comment.
"The department does not comment specifically on investigations, though anytime we see evidence of wrongdoing, we take appropriate action," Tracy Schmaler told the BBC.
News Corporation, based in New York, is the parent company of News International, the UK firm at the centre of the scandal over phone hacking and payments to police officers.News Corporation, based in New York, is the parent company of News International, the UK firm at the centre of the scandal over phone hacking and payments to police officers.
The fallout prompted News International on Wednesday to withdraw from a huge takeover bid for the UK's largest pay-TV operator, BSkyB. The fallout prompted News Corporation on Wednesday to withdraw from a huge takeover bid for the UK's largest pay-TV operator, BSkyB.
'Exploited'
UK Prime Minister David Cameron has set up a judge-led inquiry into the allegations.UK Prime Minister David Cameron has set up a judge-led inquiry into the allegations.
Unquestionably, the hacking scandal has crossed the Atlantic.
The FBI's involvement takes the affair beyond the rumblings of US politicians into the much more dangerous territory of a criminal investigation.
Of course, it remains to be proved whether Americans' phones were hacked.
The allegation that 9/11 victims were targeted by the News of the World was made by a rival British newspaper, the Daily Mirror, which based its report on an unnamed source.
If evidence of US hacking is uncovered, the scandal will take on a whole new dimension - especially if it touches upon the emotive subject of 9/11.
The company could face a second line of enquiry, into whether payments to British police officers breached US anti-corruption laws.
US senators this week asked the authorities to investigate allegations that 9/11 victims' phones were hacked. News International has not commented on the claims.US senators this week asked the authorities to investigate allegations that 9/11 victims' phones were hacked. News International has not commented on the claims.
Democratic senators Jay Rockefeller and Barbara Boxer urged the attorney general and the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether US laws had been broken.Democratic senators Jay Rockefeller and Barbara Boxer urged the attorney general and the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate whether US laws had been broken.
Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, who wrote to the attorney general separately, said claims that newspapers had sought to "exploit information about... personal tragedies for profit" needed to be investigated.Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, who wrote to the attorney general separately, said claims that newspapers had sought to "exploit information about... personal tragedies for profit" needed to be investigated.
'Minor mistakes'
Republican Congressman Peter King - who is chairman of the House homeland security committee and represents a constituency in New York that lost more then 150 people in the 9/11 attacks - called on Wednesday for an FBI inquiry.Republican Congressman Peter King - who is chairman of the House homeland security committee and represents a constituency in New York that lost more then 150 people in the 9/11 attacks - called on Wednesday for an FBI inquiry.
"The thought that anyone would have hacked into the phones of either those who were killed, those who were missing, the family members, during that tragic time... is contemptible," he told the BBC on Thursday."The thought that anyone would have hacked into the phones of either those who were killed, those who were missing, the family members, during that tragic time... is contemptible," he told the BBC on Thursday.
He declined to say whether he had any direct evidence that journalists working for News Corporation companies had sought to hack 9/11 victims' phones.He declined to say whether he had any direct evidence that journalists working for News Corporation companies had sought to hack 9/11 victims' phones.
"There were allegations, I want the FBI to investigate them, I'm not making any conclusions at all," he said."There were allegations, I want the FBI to investigate them, I'm not making any conclusions at all," he said.
'Total lies'
In an interview with the News Corporation-owned Wall Street Journal released on Thursday, Mr Murdoch said his company had handled the crisis "extremely well in every way possible", but acknowledged "minor mistakes".In an interview with the News Corporation-owned Wall Street Journal released on Thursday, Mr Murdoch said his company had handled the crisis "extremely well in every way possible", but acknowledged "minor mistakes".
He told the newspaper, which News Corporation acquired in 2007, that "some of the things that have been said in Parliament... are total lies." Asked for his reaction to recent negative media coverage of News Corporation, Mr Murdoch said he was "just getting annoyed. I'll get over it. I'm tired".
Asked for his reaction to the negative news media coverage of News Corporation employees' role in the hacking scandal, Mr Murdoch said he was "just getting annoyed. I'll get over it. I'm tired".