Rupert Murdoch blasts Scientology

News Corp boss Rupert Murdoch has launched a blistering attack on Scientology – labeling it “creepy and evil”.

The media tycoon also called the religion “threatening” and even predicted that staunch Scientology follower Tom Cruise is “number two or three”.

The no holds barred attack comes just days after one of Hollywood’s most powerful couples – Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise – announced they were divorcing after five years.

PHOTOS: Celebrity Scientologists - guess who?

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes at the 2012 Vanity Fair Oscar party in February. Source: Getty

NEWS: The real reason why Katie Holmes filed for divorce

It is believed Katie, 33, filed for divorce because she is desperately worried Cruise will begin to indoctrinate their six-year-old daughter Suri into the controversial religion full time.

Murdoch, 81, tweeted: “Watch Katie Holmes and Scientology story develop. Something creepy, maybe even evil, about these people.”

He also posted: “Scientology back in news. Very weird cult, but big, big money involved with Tom Cruise either number two or three in [hierarchy].”

Murdoch started immediate uproar in the Twitterverse with his inflammatory comments.

RELATED: Tom Cruise says "I treat all my children the same"

Rupert Murdoch and Wendi Deng arrive at Rupert Murdoch Host Sky Gala Dinner in Milan, June 12. Source: Getty

But he refused to back down by later tweeting: “Since Scientology tweet hundreds of attacks. Expect they will increase and get worse and maybe threatening.

“Still stick to my story.”

But Murdoch risks a huge Hollywood backlash as a number of movie big hitters, including actors such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta, are involved with the organisation.

Cruise has previously starred in a number of films made by Murdoch’s 20th Century Fox, including Rain Man and Minority Report.