Man, 71, held in phone-hack probe

A 71-year-old man was arrested today on suspicion of phone hacking and corruption, police in Britain said.

Scotland Yard said he was arrested by appointment at a north London police station at 10.50am and remains in custody.

Officers from Operation Weeting and Operation Elveden arrested the man on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and on suspicion of inappropriate payments to police.

He is the 11th person to be arrested since Scotland Yard’s fresh investigation into phone hacking was launched in January.

The arrests include a series of high-profile figures, including former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and ex-Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “At 10.50 on Tuesday August 2 officers from Operation Weeting together with officers from Operation Elveden arrested a man on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications, contrary to Section 1 (1) Criminal Law Act 1977 and on suspicion of corruption allegations contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.

“The male, aged 71, was arrested by appointment at a north London police station. He is currently in custody.”