More Sun reporters arrested as probe into hacking scandal widens

Feb 11, 2012, 18:56 GMT

London - Police in Britain said Saturday they had arrested five journalists from The Sun tabloid, part of Rupert Murdoch's news empire, as part of an investigation into allegations of corrupt payments by journalists to public officials.

A further three people were also arrested, also on suspicion of corruption. One is an armed forces member, one a police officer and the third a defence ministry employee.

The arrests mark another twist in the scandal that has engulfed News International, the British arm of Murdoch's empire.

Last year, Murdoch closed the News of the World tabloid, following revelations reporters had hacked the phone of a young murder victim, among others.

News International chief executive Tom Mockridge, in a memo to staff at the Sun, assured them their jobs were not in jeopardy.

'I have had a personal assurance today from Rupert Murdoch about his total commitment to continue to own and publish The Sun newspaper,' he was quoted by the BBC as saying in the memo.

News Corporation, the parent company, said it had given investigators from Operation Elveden information leading to the arrests.

'News Corporation remains committed to ensuring that unacceptable news-gathering practices by individuals in the past will not be repeated...,' the company said in a statement.

The arrests come two weeks after a Scotland Yard policeman and four current and former Sun journalists were arrested, also on suspicion of corruption. All five have since been freed on bail.