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Former Scottish Prime Minister says she had 'no prior knowledge' of arrest Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has been released without charge after being questioned as part of an investigation into SNP's finances. Murrell, 58, the husband of former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, was held by police for almost 12 hours after his arrest on Wednesday.
Ms Sturgeon said in a statement that she had "no prior knowledge of the action or intentions of Police Scotland" when her husband was arrested.
However, he said he would "fully cooperate if necessary" with the police.
Wednesday's arrest was linked to a lengthy police investigation into spending some £600,000 on the Scottish independence campaign.
Murrell resigned as SNP chief executive last month following a controversy over misleading information given to journalists about the party's membership.
It came just weeks after Sturgeon herself resigned from her top job in Scotland.
For nearly a decade, Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon have been the husband and wife team running the SNP.
But now Murrell is at the center of an investigation into the finances of the SNP and has been arrested by Police Scotland in connection with the ongoing investigation into party financing.
Police Scotland said a 58-year-old man was in custody and was being questioned by detectives.
Read Thomas Kingsley's detailed report.
Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon helped take the SNP to new heights, but now both have resigned.
The first minister and leader of the Scottish National Party, Humza Yousaf, said the arrest of Peter Murrell was a difficult day for the party.
"My reaction, as you can imagine, like anyone involved in the SNP, is that this is a hardship for the party," he told the announcers.
"But again, I would like to reiterate and emphasize that it is very important for me not to comment on a live police investigation and be seen as prejudicial to it in any way."
He added that he will wait and see what will happen at the conclusion of this police investigation.
He also denied that the arrest of Murrell, the husband of former Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was related to his resignation last month.
Nicola Sturgeon's successor as Scottish First Minister has said he does not believe the investigation into the SNP's finances was the reason for his resignation:
Nicola Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, was arrested Wednesday.
In the most recent polls, the SNP remains the leading party, writes Sean O'Grady.
But the leader will discuss his best path to a new referendum, and then his victory, at a special party conference.
The SNP was already in a 'big mess', as Sean O'Grady explains
On Wednesday night, a Police Scotland spokesman said Murrell had been released without charge.
They said: 'A 58-year-old man who was arrested as a suspect today in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, has been released without charge pending further investigation.
"The man was questioned by Police Scotland detectives following his arrest at 7:45am. He was released at 6:57pm."
“Officers also conducted searches today at various addresses as part of the investigation.
“A report will be sent to the Crown Office and the Prosecutor's Fiscal Service.
"The case remains active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and therefore the public is urged to exercise caution if discussed on social media.
"As the investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment further."
Police were seen combing the former prime minister's garden after her husband was arrested following an investigation into the finances of the SNP:
Police officers with shovels were seen in the back garden of the home of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell in Glasgow.
Peter Murrell's career to date and how he and Mrs Sturgeon became key figures on the Scottish political landscape:
Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar said there were "big question marks" for the SNP following the arrest of former party chief executive Peter Murrell:
The Scottish Labor leader spoke after the arrest of Nicola Sturgeon's husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.
Nicola Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, was arrested early Wednesday morning in connection with a police investigation into the SNP's finances.
The former party chief executive was detained and questioned by detectives as police searched his Glasgow home on Wednesday morning.
He was later released without charge:
Police Scotland investigated the finances of the SNP and the spending of around £600,000 on the independence campaign.
Nicola Sturgeon will "fully cooperate if necessary" with police following her husband's arrest and subsequent release without charge as part of an investigation into the SNP's finances, her spokesman said.
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