VIA Telegraph.co.uk:
13.08 The Metropolitan Police say that they have arrested a 42-year-old woman in connection with the scandal. Andy Davies of Channel 4 News says that it is in relation to both Operation Weeting (phone hacking) and Operation Elveden (payments to police). Lots of speculation over who it is, but it is worth pointing out that Rebekah Brooks is 43, not 42.
Hmm, interesting..
13.11 Update: the Metropolitan Police have now corrected their statement. It's a 43-year-old woman, not a 42-year-old. Here's the full, corrected statement:
The MPS has this afternoon, Sunday 17 July, arrested a female in connection with allegations of corruption and phone hacking. At approximately 12.00 hrs a 43-year-old woman was arrested by appointment at a London police station by officers from Operation Weeting together with officers from Operation Elveden. She is currently in custody.
She was arrested 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. The Operation Weeting team is conducting the new investigation into phone hacking. Operation Elveden is the investigation into allegations of inappropriate payments to police. This investigation is being supervised by the IPCC.
It would be inappropriate to discuss any further details regarding these cases at this time.
More than interesting! Let's just see how this unfolds, shall we?
Confirmed! Rebekah brooks Arrested by the Met:
Phone hacking: Rebekah Brooks arrested
Rebekah Brooks has been arrested in connection with allegations phone hacking and corruption at the News of the World.
The paper's former editor was arrested at noon by appointment at a London police station.
She was arrested by detectives from both Operation Weeting, the hacking probe, and Operation Elveden, the investigation into allegations police were paid for information.
A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said "At approximately 12.00 hrs a 43-year-old woman was arrested by appointment at a London police station by officers from Operation Weeting together with officers from Operation Elveden. She is currently in custody.
"She was arrested 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.
"It would be inappropriate to discuss any further details regarding these cases at this time."
But, is this the right move, right now?
Michael White, assitor of The Guardian, says he is "wary" of these "grandstanding" arrests - "when they tip off their friends in the media, including me" - suggesting that they are somewhat intended to show that the police are doing their jobs. "Remember that there are a few questions to answer about the Met in this case", he says, adding that it's not clear they needed to arrest Brooks, since she was attending the police station anyway.
David Allen Green, legal correspondant for the New Statesman wonders whether this will allow her to avoid answering queries at Tuesday's DCMS committee. And adds:
"And, yes, even Rebekah Brooks is entitled to #DueProcess and the right against self-incrimination."
UPDATE:
"DCMS Comittee Chair John Whittingdale is currently taking legal advice over whether Rebekah Brooks can give evidence on Tuesday"
UPDATE 2: VIA CNN
Former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks was arrested Sunday in connection with British police investigations into phone hacking and police bribery, her spokesman told CNN.
She is being quizzed by police in London after having come in by appointment, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said.
Brooks did not know she was going to be arrested when she arrived, her spokesman Dave Wilson said.
She resigned on Friday as chief executive of Rupert Murdoch's News International, which published the News of the World.
The company also did not know she was about to be arrested when it accepted her resignation, a News International source told CNN Sunday, asking not to be named discussing internal corporate affairs.
UPDATE 3: VIA HuffPo:
Therese Coffey Says There Is A 25% that Brooks Will Appear Before The Select Committee On Tuesday
The Culture Select Committee member told Sky News: "It is an extraordinary development...
"Rebekah brooks has not yet been charged so the matter's not yet sub judice. There is still a chance Mrs Brooks could come before the committee on Tuesday. it is an interesting time, we don't want to get in the way of the police investigation but hopefully the police investigation isn't going to stop the proper questioning of people like Mrs Brooks by parliament."
She added: "If a charge is made that immediately we cannot pursue the matter with Mrs Brooks."
So, will this bring down Murdoch's criminal media empire or will it be all show and flash?
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