The Wall Street Journal, one of Rupert Murdoch's own papers, reports that the Justice Department is preparing subpoenas as it ramps-up its early investigations into claims News Corp. journalists in Britain sought to hack into the phones of Sept. 11 victims.

An unnamed government official apparently confirmed the early stages of the quest for information from News Corp., but told the newspaper senior Justice officials have yet to sign off on the subpoena request.

Officials confirmed to the Associated Press last week that the FBI has launched an investigation into claims reporters working for News of the World - Murdoch's now-dismantled U.K. tabloid - tried to pay ex-cops in New York to obtain the personal information of 9/11 family members.