Two journalists were arrested today by British detectives investigating corrupt payments to public officials.
Scotland Yard said a 37-year man was detained at his home in Kent and a 34-year-old man held at his home in south-east London.
They are being questioned at separate police stations on suspicion of conspiracy to corrupt and of conspiracy to cause misconduct in a public office, the Met said.
A spokesman said: “Today’s arrests relate to suspected payments to a public official and are not about seeking journalists to reveal confidential sources in relation to information that has been obtained legitimately.”
The latest arrests mean 41 people have been arrested by detectives on Operation Elveden, the investigation into suspected corrupt payments to public officials.
The operation is being run alongside Operation Weeting, the Scotland Yard investigation into phone-hacking.
The Met spokesman said: “A 37-year-old man was arrested at his home in Kent and a 34-year-old man at his home in south-east London at approximately 6am this morning on suspicion of conspiracy to corrupt (contrary to the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906) and of conspiracy to cause misconduct in a public office (contrary to common law).
“The two, both journalists, are being questioned at police stations in Kent and south-east London.”
Later Trinity Mirror said Sunday Mirror reporter Justin Penrose had been arrested.
A spokesman said: “We have been informed by the police that Justin Penrose was arrested this morning on suspicion of alleged payments to public officials. We are co-operating fully with the police.”
PA