Newsman, two others arrested for 'phone interceptions'

The three -- including Clive Goodman, royal affairs editor of Britain's best-selling newspaper, The News of the World -- were arrested in the London area Tuesday on suspicion of "unlawful telephone interceptions," police said.

The anti-terrorist branch of London's Metropolitan Police is investigating because of the potential security risks to the royal family, and say they are now also trying to determine whether other public figures may have been bugged.

Police said inquiries began in December last year when three staff members at Clarence House, the prince's official residence in London, contacted them about "alleged repeated security breaches within its telephone network".

The police would not comment on a BBC report that the three staffers were Prince Charles's communication secretary Paddy Harverson and two others who work with his sons Princes William and Harry.

One of the two unnamed men, aged 50, has been released on bail, police said. Goodman, 48, and a 35-year-old man remained in custody.

Clarence House declined to comment on the developments.

However, The News of the World confirmed that its royal editor had been arrested and was being questioned at a police station in London.

The offices of News International, which owns The News of the World, have also been searched by police. News International is the British subsidiary of media mogul Rupert Murdoch's News Corp.

Television station ITV reported that other public figures who could have been affected included high-profile celebrities and cabinet-level ministers, though not Prime Minister Tony Blair.

The police have not confirmed the report.