News of the World will close after hacking scandal

THE News of the World will be closed down in the wake of the phone hacking scandal, it was announced today.

This Sunday's edition will be the last ever after private eyes hired by the paper were accused of hacking thousands of numbers including those of murder victims and relatives of dead war heroes. News International — which owns the 168-year-old tabloid — announced it would be axed, adding that the alleged practices were "inhuman" and had "no place in our Company".

This Sunday's edition will be the last ever after private eyes hired by the paper were accused of hacking thousands of numbers including those of murder victims and relatives of dead war heroes. News International — which owns the 168-year-old tabloid — announced it would be axed, adding that the alleged practices were "inhuman" and had "no place in our Company". Chairman James Murdoch revealed the news to shocked staff at the papers' offices in London this afternoon.

In a statement, Mr Murdoch said: "Having consulted senior colleagues, I have decided that we must take further decisive action with respect to the paper. "This Sunday will be the last issue of the News of the World. "Colin Myler will edit the final edition of the paper." Mr Murdoch said this Sunday's edition of the paper would have no advertisements and all the revenue from sales would go to good causes. He said: "While we may never be able to make up for distress that has been caused, the right thing to do is for every penny of the circulation revenue we receive this weekend to go to organisations — many of whom are long-term friends and partners — that improve life in Britain and are devoted to treating others with dignity." The paper has been rocked over the past week by revelations that murdered teenager Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked.

It was also claimed that the parents of murdered schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman were targeted. Victims of London's 7/7 Tube bombings were also hacked.

The families of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and Princess Diana's inquest lawyer Michael Mansfield QC were among the latest to reveal they may have been targeted. Detectives investigating the scandal have said there could be 4,000 potential victims. Scotland Yard Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers added that hundreds more believe they may have been targeted. Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and Chief Executive of The Sun's owner News Corporation, has condemned the phone hacking allegations. He said: "Recent allegations with respect to the News of the World are deplorable and unacceptable." Rebekah Brooks, News International's Chief Executive and the editor of the News of the World at the time of the Milly Dowler hacking, has said she is "sickened" by the allegations and has promised the "strongest possible action" against those responsible. She added she has pledged her "full co-operation" with the police inquiry into the scandal.

Later in the day, James Murdoch said that he was satisfied with the "standard of ethics" of Ms Brooks. He added: "I am satisfied that Rebekah, her leadership of this business and her standard of ethics and her standard of conduct throughout her career, are very good." The hacking probe was re-opened in January after News International executives went to police voluntarily with new information discovered in an internal investigation.

The police inquiry has focused mainly on celebrities who feared they were targeted by rogue private investigator Glenn Mulcaire - jailed in 2007 for phone hacking on behalf of the News of the World. James Murdoch added in his statement the good things the News of the World does "have been sullied by behaviour that was wrong - indeed, if recent allegations are true, it was inhuman and has no place in our company". He said: "The News of the World is in the business of holding others to account. But it failed when it came to itself. "In 2006, the police focused their investigations on two men. Both went to jail. But the News of the World and News International failed to get to the bottom of repeated wrongdoing that occurred without conscience or legitimate purpose. "Wrongdoers turned a good newsroom bad and this was not fully understood or adequately pursued. "As a result, the News of the World and News International wrongly maintained that these issues were confined to one reporter. "We now have voluntarily given evidence to the police that I believe will prove that this was untrue and those who acted wrongly will have to face the consequences. This was not the only fault.

"The paper made statements to Parliament without being in the full possession of the facts. This was wrong." David Cameron yesterday slammed the hacking allegations as "disgusting" and ordered a full public inquiry into the scandal. The PM told a packed House of Commons that the independent probe was needed to clean up British journalism. Rupert Murdoch welcomed the inquiry. The News of the World has been responsible for a string of ground breaking stories over the past year — most notably revealing a multi-million pound cricket match-fixing ring involving Pakistani international cricketers.

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