Ex-News of the world editor in new hacking arrest

THE former managing editor of the News of the World was arrested today on suspicion of phone hacking and inappropriate payments to police, according to reports.

A 71-year-old man is being questioned at a north London police station after arriving to be interviewed by appointment at 10.50am, Scotland Yard said.

He is thought to be Stuart Kuttner, 71, who resigned as the newspaper’s managing editor in July 2009.

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Mr Kuttner has previously denied his decision to quit shortly before the Guardian disclosed the News of the World paid out more than £1 million to settle cases which threatened to reveal evidence of alleged phone-hacking was related to the issue.

At the time of his resignation, he was described by then-editor Colin Myler as a man whose “DNA is absolutely integrated into the newspaper which he has represented across the media with vigour”.

He was an “outstanding managing editor” who was “a major driving force behind the success of Sarah’s Law”, Mr Myler said.

Officers from Operation Weeting, who investigate phone hacking, and Operation Elveden, who investigate inappropriate payments to police, made the arrest, Scotland Yard said.

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Alan Rusbridger, editor in chief of the Guardian, said on Twitter that it was Mr Kuttner who had been arrested.

Several other media outlets also reported that the man being questioned was Mr Kuttner.

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

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

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The scandal has already caused the closure of the News of the World after 168 years and the resignation of two top police officers, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson and Assistant Commissioner John Yates.

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.”

News International said they had no comment on the arrest.

MURDOCH PIE PROTESTER IS JAILED

The protester who threw a foam pie at Rupert Murdoch was jailed for six weeks today.

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Jonathan May-Bowles, 26, pleaded guilty last week to assaulting the 80-year-old media tycoon as he gave evidence to the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee about the phone hacking scandal.

May-Bowles, also known by his comedy stage name “Jonnie Marbles”, disrupted proceedings by launching a paper plate of shaving foam at Mr Murdoch.

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