Reporter re-arrested in phone hack case

Thurlbeck was one of the first suspects questioned by Operation Weeting detectives last April.

Detectives detained him a day after former Sun editor Rebekah Brooks, her husband Charlie Brooks, and four other suspects were arrested over allegations of cover-ups surrounding the inquiry.

Mr Thurlbeck was being questioned last night on suspicion of witness intimidation and encouraging or assisting an offence.

He has blogged about the inquiry in recent months and claimed that he refused a police offer to give evidence against his ex-employer News International.

A Scotland Yard statement said: “A 51-year-old man was arrested by appointment at a central London police station at approximately 4pm today by officers from Operation Weeting, the MPS inquiry into the phone hacking of voicemails.

“He was arrested on suspicion of intimidation of a witness (contrary to Section 51 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994) and encouraging or assisting an offence (contrary to Section 46 of the Serious Crime Act 2007).”

Mr Thurlbeck has said detectives asked him to become a prosecution witness after seizing documents from his home.

Evidence taken after his first arrest last April indicated that he warned senior colleagues two years ago about hacking, he said.

Mr Thurlbeck said detectives hoped he would become a key witness in return for potential immunity from prosecution but he turned down the offer.

Mr Thurlbeck has also previously lodged a claim for unfair dismissal against News International.

Mr and Mrs Brooks were bailed on Tuesday along with Mark Hanna, News International’s head of security, and three other suspects questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.