News of the World closes in on hacking identity

The publishers of the News of the World have said they are “very close” to discovering who commissioned the alleged hacking of Milly Dowler’s phone.

News International executives have uncovered evidence about who allegedly asked private investigator Glenn Mulcaire to illegally access the murdered schoolgirl’s voicemail messages after she went missing in 2002.

Simon Greenberg, the company’s director of corporate affairs, told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We are very close to, we believe, identifying an individual or individuals who potentially commissioned this act.”

He refused to say whether those involved still work for the News of the World or News International.

But asked whether he was clear that the hacking was not commissioned by News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, who was News of the World editor at the time, Mr Greenberg said: “We are clear.”