UK police arrest journalist in bribery probe

LONDON – British police arrested a journalist Saturday on suspicion of bribery, acting on information supplied by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

The 43-year-old man was arrested in London by officers from Operation Elveden, which is investigating inappropriate payments to police and public officials, police said. He was freed on bail several hours later.

The corruption probe is running alongside investigations into phone hacking and computer hacking sparked by revelations that reporters at Murdoch's now-shuttered News of the World tabloid routinely intercepted voicemails of those in the public eye.

Police said Saturday's arrest — the 47th of the investigation — was the result of information from a News Corp. committee created to get to the bottom of the criminality at Murdoch's British newspapers.

Several people have been charged over the scandal, including former Murdoch executive Rebekah Brooks.