A British tabloid journalist was being questioned by police today over alleged security breaches involving the mobile phones of royal officials.
News of Worldroyal editor Clive Goodman and two other men were arrested yesterday over allegations that phones belonging to members of staff at Prince Charles's residence Clarence House
The exterior of Charing Cross police station in central London where the News of the World royal correspondent Clive Goodman is being questioned.
were hacked into.
One of the men, aged 50, was released on police bail early this morning.
Clarence House would not comment on reports that calls to Paddy Harverson, the Prince of Wales's communications secretary, had been intercepted. It also said it would not discuss any details of the alleged phone tapping as a police investigation had been launched.
The police inquiry, which began more than seven months ago, has now gone beyond Clarence House to other public figures, understood to include at least one MP.
Officers have not ruled out the possibility that other royal households, including Buckingham Palace, could have had their phones intercepted, or that politicians and other members of the Royal Family could have had their voicemail messages monitored.
Other public figures who could have been affected reportedly include high-profile celebrities, footballers and Cabinet-level ministers, but not the Prime Minister.
Scotland Yard would not confirm this but sources said detectives were investigating a large number of other telephone numbers, who they belonged to and whether they had been subject to interception.
Mr Goodman (48) the News of the World's long-standing royal editor, was being held at Charing Cross police station in central London. A 35-year-old man was held at a different station.
The investigation is being handled by a small team of officers from Scotland Yard's Anti-Terrorist Branch because of the wider security implications of the allegations.
Officers from the Specialist Crime Directorate are also involved. They have searched a number of addresses, including the offices of News International in Wapping, as well as in Sutton and Chelsea. Inquiries began in December last year when three members of the Royal Household at Clarence House - but not members of the Royal Family itself - contacted the police about alleged repeated security breaches within the telephone network.
According to the BBC, the three staff members were Prince Charles's communications secretary Mr Haverson and two members of staff who deal with Princes William and Harry.
It is understood that the allegations relate to the interception of mobile phone voicemail messages, rather than landlines. Sources said the allegations did not relate to the tapping of live telephone calls.
The other two men arrested are not journalists, although it is not yet clear exactly what their occupations are.
PA
