BOSTON — A newspaper's naming of the tipster who led the FBI to a notorious gangster is raising concerns about her safety and whether it will discourage others from speaking up.
The Boston Globe reported over the weekend that Anna Bjornsdottir tipped off the FBI to the whereabouts of James Bulger and his girlfriend in Santa Monica, Calif. The gangster is better known as "Whitey."
Former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan says he does not believe Bjornsdottir is in danger of retaliation. But he says he worries the revelation could hurt the FBI's ability to cultivate informants and tips.
Globe editors said they thought it was important to write about how Bulger was caught, in part to rebut conspiracy theories.
The newspaper says it learned the tipster's identity by talking to Bulger's neighbors. Bjornsdottir was friends with Bulger's girlfriend.
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