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Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson arrested on suspicion of bribery and witness intimidation, Sky News understands

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson has been released on conditional bail after being arrested in connection with an investigation into building and planning developments in the city, Sky News understands.

He is one of five men who were held on suspicion of alleged offences including conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation.

None have been charged or named by Merseyside Police, and all have now been released pending further inquiries. The force released the following details:

  • A 72-year-old man, from Aigburth, arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation

  • A 62-year-old man, from Old Swan, arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation

  • A 46-year-old man, from Ainsdale, arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation

  • A 33-year-old man, from West Derby, arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit bribery and witness intimidation

  • A 25-year-old man, from, Ormskirk, arrested on suspicion of witness intimidation

Sky News understands the 62-year-old is Mr Anderson, the city's directly-elected Labour mayor.

It is also understood that he has been administratively suspended from the party.

Merseyside Police said detectives made the arrests on Friday as "part of an ongoing investigation".

Sky News' North of England correspondent Tom Parmenter said: "The police investigation is understood to have been running for more than a year and a total of 11 people have now been arrested as part of the fraud inquiry.

"Detectives have not revealed which property deals are being examined but they are all within the city of Liverpool."

A Liverpool City Council spokesperson said: "Liverpool City Council is co-operating with Merseyside Police in relation to its ongoing investigation. We do not comment on matters relating to individuals."

Mr Anderson has been at the forefront of Liverpool's response to the coronavirus pandemic, with the government having held the city up as an example of how areas can emerge from the toughest level of its tiered restrictions.

Liverpool was in Tier 3 before November's lockdown, but is now in Tier 2 after the stricter measures and the rollout of mass testing helped numbers get back under control.