Phone Hacking Probe: Former 'News of the World' Top Lawyer Arrested (Report)

LONDON - The London Metropolitan police, known as Scotland Yard, on Thursday arrested a 60-year-old man, who the Guardian identified as former News of the World head of legal Tom Crone.

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He has been a key figure in the hacking scandal that has engulfed the U.K. newspaper unit of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

Scotland Yard said the arrest was made at the man's south-west London home.

"The 60-year-old man was arrested at his home address at approximately 06.45 hrs this morning on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications contrary," it said in a statement. "He is being interviewed at a south London police station."

The Guardian said that the arrest was based on information from News International's management and standards committee and Crone had no notice before the arrest.

A spokeswoman for News International had no comment and said the firm couldn't independently confirm this.

Crone is the 25th person arrested as part of the investigation into phone hacking.

Earlier this month, the British Crown Prosecution Service brought phone hacking charges against several former News of the World journalists, including News International ex-CEO Rebekah Brooks and the tabloid's former editor Andy Coulson.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com

Twitter: @georgszalai