Former news editor and current chief reporter arrested after presenting themselves at separate London police stations

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

The former news editor and current chief reporter from the News of the World have been arrested on suspicion of unlawfully intercepting mobile phone voicemail messages.

Ian Edmondson and Neville Thurlbeck had voluntarily presented themselves at different London police stations this morning and were arrested. It was expected their homes would be searched by officers at midday.

Scotland Yard has confirmed that two men, aged 50 and 42, "were arrested this morning after attending separate police stations in south-west London by appointment".

"They remain in custody for questioning after being arrested on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications, contrary to Section 1(1) Criminal Law Act 1977, and unlawful interception of voicemail messages, contrary to Section 1 Ripa [Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act] 2000," the briefing 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 Guardian understands that Edmondson, NoW's former head of news, is being questioned by officers at Wimbledon police station. Thurlbeck, the paper's chief reporter, is at Kingston police station.

The arrests are the first salvo in Operation Weeting, whose tasks include establishing whether there are grounds for bringing further prosecutions in the phone-hacking scandal.

Edmondson and Thurlbeck were later released on police bail to return in September, Scotland Yard said.

The two men have been implicated in the long-running scandal through documents seized from Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator employed by the newspaper.

Edmondson, who was sacked from NoW in January, denies any wrongdoing.

Thurlbeck was interviewed by police last autumn. No charge has been brought against either man, both of whom have denied all involvement in criminal activity.

The arrests come on the day that Keir Starmer QC, director of public prosecutions, gives evidence at a home affairs committee from witnesses into the unauthorised intercepting of communications.

Only one reporter, the former royal editor Clive Goodman, has been convicted of a crime as part of the scandal. He and Mulcaire were sentenced to jail terms in January 2007.

No other reporters or executives were questioned by the initial police investigation. It was only after a series of high court cases brought by the actor Sienna Miller, the football pundit Andy Gray and others that the Metropolitan police were forced to reveal material found on Mulcaire's computer, during a 2006 raid of his home.

Last Friday, a high court judge ordered NoW to make available Mulcaire's notes to the growing list of people suing the paper. Justice Geoffrey Vos, who is in charge of the hacking cases, ordered "rolling disclosure" to all claimants.

Hundreds of thousands of emails will now be handed over to alleged victims.

News International later said in a statement: "In January, News International voluntarily approached the Met Police and provided information that led to the opening of the current police investigation.

"News International terminated the employment of the assistant editor (news) of the News of the World at the same time.

"News International has consistently reiterated that it will not tolerate wrong-doing and is committed to acting on evidence.

"We continue to co-operate fully with the ongoing police investigation."