Phone hacking: detectives make 16th arrest

Detectives investigating phone hacking at the News of the World arrested a 35-year-old man in the early hours of this morning.

The man was arrested at 5.55am at his home on suspicion of conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages, contrary to Section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977, police confirmed today.

He was taken to a North London police station where he remains in custody.

This morning's arrest was the 16th by detectives from the Met police Operation Weeting team, which is investigating phone hacking. It differs from the majority of previous arrests in that it took place at the suspect's home, and not at a police station by prior appointment.

Operation Weeting has previously arrested a number of high-profile figures in the course of investigation, including former Downing Street director of communications Andy Coulson and former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks.

Coulson and Brooks both resigned from News International over the scandal, which has also led to the closure of the News of the World and the resignations of two of the UK's most senior police officers, former Met police commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and former assistant commissioner John Yates.

Former News International legal manager and News of the World editor Colin Myler appeared before the culture, media and sport select committee yesterday, where they challenged James Murdoch's evidence to the committee in July.

Murdoch hit back at the former executives after yesterday's hearing, claiming that their evidence was "unclear and contradictory".

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