Former Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson was arrested today on suspicion of phone hacking and corruption.
The 43-year-old ex-editor of the News of the World was held at a south London police station this morning, sources said.
A Scotland Yard statement said: “The MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) has this morning arrested a member of the public in connection with allegations of corruption and phone hacking.
“The man, aged 43, was arrested by appointment at a south London police station. He is currently in custody.”
He was held at 10.30am by detectives investigating Operation Elveden – the inquiry into payments to police by the News of the World – and Operation Weeting, the long-running hacking investigation.
After arriving by appointment at the station, he was held on suspicion of “conspiring to intercept communications” and “corruption allegations contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906”.
UPDATE 8/7/11 1.07pm:
Former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman has been arrested in connection with alleged payments to police.
Goodman and the NoW’s full-time investigator for the paper Glenn Mulcaire were jailed for intercepting mobile phone voicemail messages to find stories in January 2007.
The 53 year-old is being held for questioning at a police station in south London.
Goodman – who currently works for the Daily Star Sunday – was held after a dawn swoop by officers at his home in Surrey.
Detectives are searching both Coulson’s address in Forest Hill, south London, and Goodman’s property.
Officers investigating Operation Elveden – the inquiry into payments to police by the News of the World – and Operation Weeting, the long-running hacking investigation, are questioning the pair.
Referring to Goodman’s arrest, a Scotland Yard statement said: “At 6.11am officers from the MPS’ Operation Weeting together with officers from Operation Elveden arrested a man on suspicion of corruption allegations in contravention of Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.
“The man, aged 53, was arrested at a residential address in Surrey. A search is ongoing at this address.”
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