FBI slams NYPD's 'Muslim surveillance programme' as ' waste of money'

Washington, Aug 2 (ANI): The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has criticized the New York Police Department's (NYPD) so-called Muslim surveillance program, calling it "a waste of money".

The FBI is so opposed to the NYPD's spying program that it has barred its agents from dealing with cops of the department's intelligence division, as they think it is an affront to constitutional rights.

These anonymous claims surfaced after the launch of an updated version of the book, "The Secrets of the FBI," written by best-selling investigative author Ronald Kessler, due to be out next week.

"What never came out is that the FBI considers the NYPD's intelligence gathering practices since 9/11 not only a waste of money, but a violation of Americans' rights," the New York Daily News quoted Kessler, as writing.

"We will not be a party to it," an FBI source had reportedly told Kessler.

However, the NYPD has long denied the FBI's accusations and said the police department wasn't involved in any wrongdoing.

"There's been a suggestion that what we are doing doesn't comport with legal requirements, and that's not the case. Everything we're doing is done constitutionally," Paul Browne, the NYPD's chief spokesman said.

FBI remained unavailable for comment on the issue. (ANI)