The former head of news and current chief reporter of British newspaper the News of the World have been arrested on suspicion of phone hacking.
Ian Edmondson (42) and Neville Thurlbeck (50) were held by Scotland Yard detectives when they attended separate police stations in south-west London by appointment this morning.
The pair were questioned on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and unlawfully intercepting voicemail messages.
These are the first arrests since the Metropolitan Police reopened its inquiry into claims that staff at the Sunday newspaper hacked into the answerphone messages of celebrities, politicians and members of the monarchy.
The paper's former royal reporter, Clive Goodman, and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were jailed in 2007 for hacking voice mails.
In 2009, a Guardian journalist alleged in evidence to the commons culture, media and sport committee that Mr Thurlbeck had received transcripts of intercepted calls.
The MPs were shown an email apparently sent to Mulcaire by a junior News of the World reporter in 2005 which stated: "This is the transcript for Neville." The email included a typed record of voicemail messages exchanged between Professional Footballers' Association boss Gordon Taylor and his legal adviser.
Police were expected to search Mr Edmondson and Mr Thurlbeck's homes today before releasing them, the Guardian reported.
Agencies