The Empire Strikes Back: Rupert Murdoch To Fight The Scandal

Rupert Murdoch, the man behind the News International media empire is due in London this weekend in the wake of the phone hacking crisis.

{jcomments on}Whether it is a scheduled visit or not, the arrival of Murdoch to the UK signals just how serious this crisis has become for the media boss. Tomorrow will see the final edition of News of the World after the decision was taken to axe the newspaper after a week of allegations of phone hacking and corruption within the newspaper and its owners.

It is being reported that from tomorrow onwards the News of the World offices will become a crime scene, as detectives begin finding out just what went on. Yesterday former editor Andy Coulson was arrested and questioned by police – he has been bailed by police until October. Clive Goodman, who has already been convicted of phone hacking, was arrested by police yesterday in connection with suspected corruption. An unknown male was also arrested on suspected corruption charges.

Last night, actor Steve Coogan clashed with Paul McMullen, who was former Deputy Features editor at News of the World. The actor, who has the victim of phone hacking expressed his delight that the paper had “gone to the wall”. McMullen, who has appeared on several television shows this week has tried to justify the decision to hack into voicemail messages – see video clip below.