The suspects arrested yesterday over allegations of perverting the course of justice in the Met’s ongoing phone-hacking inquiry have been released on bail, Scotland Yard confirmed.
Those arrested include former News International chief executive and Rebekah Brooks and her racehorse trainer husband Charlie.
News International also confirmed that another of those arrested was Mark Hanna, the company’s director of group security, who has also been released on bail.
All six suspects were later bailed to dates next month.
Officers from the Met’s phone-hacking unit Operation Weeting said the Crown Prosecution Service was consulted before they carried out yesterday’s dawn arrests.
Rebekah Brooks, 43, was questioned at an Oxfordshire police station while Charlie Brooks, 49, was interviewed at a Buckinghamshire police station.
Searches were carried out at several addresses after a 39-year-old man was arrested in Hampshire, a 46-year-old man was held in west London, a 38-year-old man was arrested in Hertfordshire and a 48-year-old man was detained at a business address in east London, They were all interviewed at separate police stations.
Asked about the arrest, a Downing Street spokeswoman said yesterday: “The Prime Minister is travelling to Washington. It is an operational matter for the police. You wouldn’t expect him to comment on it.”
Twenty-two people have now been arrested under Operation Weeting since January 2011.
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