yeezus
It's OVER 5,000!
The point that you missed is that they have a lot to lose by publishing false info. It's a throw away line to add in if you don't have a source. People don't always reveal sources because otherwise they may not give them info anymore.
I feel like this is an alternate universe where logic and sensibility has gone out the window.
It's 100% possible they're speculating/assuming.