A senior reporter at the News of the World was arrested today by detectives investigating the phone-hacking scandal.
James Weatherup, who has also worked as a news editor with the Sunday tabloid, is being questioned at a London police station, sources said.
The journalist is the third person arrested since the Metropolitan Police reopened their inquiry into claims that staff at the top-selling newspaper hacked into the answerphone messages of celebrities and politicians.
Weatherup was arrested by Scotland Yard’s Operation Weeting team on suspicion of unlawfully intercepting mobile phone voicemail messages.
A police spokesman said a 55-year-old man was arrested at 8am and taken to a London police station.
“He remains in custody for questioning after being arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to unlawfully intercept communications,” he added.
“The Operation Weeting team is conducting the new investigation into phone-hacking. It would be inappropriate to discuss any further details regarding this case at this time.”
The arrest further underlines the Metropolitan Police’s determination to investigate the scandal thoroughly after criticism that an earlier inquiry was inadequate.
Neville Thurlbeck (50) and Ian Edmondson (42) were held by earlier this month and have been released on police bail to return in September.
PA