Rebekah Brooks arrested in London as ‘hacknet’ widens

Today, two days after resigning as News International's chief executive amid a widening phone hacking scandal, Rebekah Brooks was arrested in London, British authorities announced.

Brooks—who was editor of News of the World at the time the hacking occurred—was arrested Sunday on suspicion of conspiracy and corruption, police said.

She is now the eighth person to be collared in connection with the ongoing probe. Her NOTW successor, Andy Coulson, was arrested last week.

Here's the statement from London police:

The MPS has this afternoon, Sunday 17 July, arrested a female in connection with allegations of corruption and phone hacking. At approximately 12.00 hrs a 42-year-old woman was arrested by appointment at a London police station by officers from Operation Weeting together with officers from Operation Elveden and is currently in custody. She was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications, contrary to Section1 (1) Criminal Law Act 1977 and on suspicion of corruption allegations contrary to Section 1 of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.

"This was a prearranged appointment," Brooks' spokesman, David Wilson, said in a statement. "[She] voluntarily attended a London police station to assist with their ongoing investigation." According to the AP, however, Wilson said Brooks did not know she would be arrested at the meeting.

Brooks' arrest comes two days before she is due to appear alongside News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch and his son James in front of a select Parliamentary committee to answer questions about the case.

Shortly after Brooks tendered her resignation to Murdoch on Friday, Dow Jones CEO Les Hinton also resigned, becoming the first U.S. executive to exit News Corp. in the wake of the scandal.

The Cutline's complete Hackgate coverage:

• Dow Jones CEO Les Hinton resigns as phone hacking probe claims first American News Corp. victim
• Murdoch apologizes for 'serious wrongdoing that occurred'
• Rebekah Brooks resigns amid phone hacking scandal, but doesn't admit guilt
• FBI launches News Corp. phone hacking investigation, AP source says
• What does the phone hacking scandal mean for News Corp. in U.S.?
• Murdochs agree to testify in phone hacking case
• Murdochs dodge British Parliament request to appear in phone hacking case
• Hackgate update: Parliament declares 'victory' but News Corp. stock rebounds
• Calls for U.S. to investigate, prosecute News Corp. grow louder
• Rupert, James Murdoch, Rebekah Brooks asked to appear before British lawmakers
• Phone-hack saga spiraling out of control: 9/11 dead, ex-British P.M. among latest alleged victims
• News glut for News of the World saga
• News Corp. to shutter News of the World in wake of phone hacking scandal
• Pressure mounts on Murdoch over phone hacking: Advertisers flee News of the World; government launches inquiry; more allegations surface
• Billy Bragg's anti-serenade to News Corp.