Police officers arrested Andy Coulson at 10.30 this morning at a south London police station, in connection with allegations of phone hacking during his tenure as editor of The News of the World.
Officers are to question Coulson (43) about whether he was aware phone hacking was taking place at the Sunday tabloid and whether he ever authorised the activity. He is also to be questioned about allegations the newspaper illegally paid several police officers £100,000 while he was editor.
“The Metropolitan Police Service has this morning arrested a member of the public in connection with allegations of corruption and phone hacking,” a Scotland Yard spokesman said.
“At 10.30, officers from Operation Weeting together with officers from Operation Elveden arrested a man on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications, contrary to Section1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977 and on suspicion of corruption allegations contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.”
Coulson, whom British Prime Minister David Cameron appointed as his director of communications, is likely to be released on bail and return to the police station at a later date. This has been the case with five other people who have been arrested during the police inquiry.
Coulson resigned from his job with Cameron in January over the phone hacking allegations.
Photo: Andy Coulson
