Family Terrorized After Fox News Wrongly IDs Them As Terrorists

[LASERMOVIES]

There is also a video of the story.

http://www.10news.com/video/4901387/detail.html



http://www.10news.com/news/4900925/detail.html?treets=sand&tid=2655009123813&tml=sand_9am&tmi=sand_9am_1_11000008262005&ts=H

Family Terrorized After Fox News Wrongly IDs Them As Terrorists

POSTED: 8:44 am PDT August 26, 2005
UPDATED: 10:06 am PDT August 26, 2005

LA HABRA, Calif. -- A couple whose home was wrongly identified on national television as belonging to an Islamic radical has faced harassment, and police are providing special protection.

After the report ran on Fox News on Aug. 7, people have shouted profanities at Randy and Ronnell Vorick and spray-painted "terrorist" (spelling it "terrist") on their property.

"I'm scared to go to work and leave my kids home. I call them every 30 minutes to make sure they're OK," Randy Vorick said.

John Loftus, a former federal prosecutor who appears on the Fox News segment "Inside Scoop with John Loftus," gave out the house address during the broadcast.

He said the home belonged to Iyad Hilal, whose group, Loftus said, has ties to those responsible for the July 7 bombings in London. But Hilal moved out of the house about three years ago.

Police have patrolled their house since the day after the broadcast and now have a squad car across the street. Police Capt. John Rees said the department was "giving special attention to the family to make sure they're safe."

The couple sought a public apology and correction.

"John Loftus has been reprimanded for his careless error, and we sincerely apologize to the family," said Fox spokeswoman Irena Brigante.

Loftus also apologized and told the Los Angeles Times last week that "mistakes happen. ... That was the best information we had at the time."

The FBI has launched an inquiry into the activities of Hilal, a grocery store owner who is allegedly the U.S. leader of Hizb ut-Tahrir, which has been banned in parts of Europe and the Middle East.

Hilal, 56, is apparently not suspected of any terrorist acts, but FBI terrorism investigators want to know more about his and the group's activities.

[Tracer Bullet]

Loftus also apologized and told the Los Angeles Times last week that "mistakes happen. ... That was the best information we had at the time."

Does going with the best information in regards to suspected terrorist or criminal activity normally involve the airing of the suspect's home address on national television?

Sounds like Loftus was trying to score some easy points.

[General Zod]

Definately a sad case, and fox should be held responsible. In fact - and i'm NEVER one to push for a law suit, but I think the family should go after Fox directly since this was a fox program. There's a little 7 year old girl at this residence and they were talking to her yesterday and she said someone sprayed "Terrorist" (they actually spelled it "Terrist" or something) on her house and a blue line somewhere else and she was really sad about it. I feel sorry for this family.

[Myster X]

from being labeled a terrist to a would-be millionaire

[Groucho]

I don't know if they are entitled to anything. If they bought the house from Iyad Hilal, then they are guilty of "business dealings with known terrorists."

[Duran]

That's simply irresponsible, even if the guy lived there. Giving out an address on national television? What result was he expecting? And without even double-checking his facts?

[Myster X]

I don't know if they are entitled to anything. If they bought the house from Iyad Hilal, then they are guilty of "business dealings with known terrorists."

I guess that makes all American terrorists since we buy Middle East oil. :(

[The Bus]

spray-painted "terrorist" (spelling it "terrist")

rotfl

[DVD Polizei]

Mr. Hilal moved out of the fucking home THREE YEARS AGO? Jesus ever lovin' Christ.

Another great stunt by Fox News. It's like we have teenagers given license to broadcast their whimsical ideology. And the TERRIST spelling is so reflective of the people who watch Fox News, I can't think of a better example.

Golden moments, baby.

As to Hizb ut-Tahrir, it's a movement to go back to Shari’ah.

[Goldblum]

Was this a live show? If so, there wasn't too much Fox could do since it wasn't their employee saying it unless they have their fingers on a delay button. Otherwise, this should have been picked up by someone before it aired. Stupid. -ohbfrank-

[Otto]

"John Loftus has been reprimanded for his careless error, and we sincerely apologize to the family," said Fox spokeswoman Irena Brigante.
What? Fucker should be fired and never work in the news media again.

I don't care if he *still* lived there. I don't care if he was known to have murdered 20 people with his bare hands.

There is no excuse for encouraging vigilante behavior by giving out somebody's home address like that on national television.

[Duran]

Was this a live show? If so, there wasn't too much Fox could do since it wasn't their employee saying it unless they have their fingers on a delay button. Otherwise, this should have been picked up by someone before it aired. Stupid. -ohbfrank-

Why wouldn't Fox be responsible? The segment was called "Inside Scoop with John Loftus". If he's technically not an employee, he is certainly a compensated contractor.

[Ranger]

Ever since I stopped watching Fox News, along with other cable news channels, I have been able to think much more clearly.

[Red Dog]

Was this a live show? If so, there wasn't too much Fox could do since it wasn't their employee saying it unless they have their fingers on a delay button. Otherwise, this should have been picked up by someone before it aired. Stupid. -ohbfrank-



Loftus is a certainly acting as an agent of FOX News whether the report is live or not. I don't think FOX News could hide behind "the views expressed in this program are not necessarily shared by FNC" disclaimer.

[Giantrobo]

John and Ken on KFI had them on several weeks ago. It's a scary story.

[Breakfast with Girls]

Definately a sad case, and fox should be held responsible. In fact - and i'm NEVER one to push for a law suit, but I think the family should go after Fox directly since this was a fox program.I agree. Publishing an address on national TV and saying they are terrorists is inciting violence. That's a lawsuit if I ever saw one.

[Jason]

I guess that makes all American terrorists since we buy Middle East oil. :(

Nah, it's filtered through too many US companies to make you responsible.

It could make a great commercial though. "Halliburton: We Break the Law so You Don't Have To!"

[mikehunt]

whoop tee do he apologized
he needs to announce multiple times during every show, and have a taped promo thing running all day at random times on foxnwes saying he fucked up and leave those people alone

[DVD Polizei]

I bet won't see this news story being covered on Fox News that much. Yah think? Mr. Hannity? Mr. Gibson? Mr. O'Reilly? Any comments guys? No? Hmmmm. Ok, go back to singing God Bless America.

Sounds like to me Fox News isn't doing their part to rectify the situation by creating local news apologies so the family won't be in further danger. They need to be running a goddamn news ticker statement for the next month.