Max Clifford arrested on sex charges by Savile detectives

GlobalPost

Famous British publicist Max Clifford has been arrested on suspicion of sexual offenses by the same detectives investigating sexual abuse claims against Jimmy Savile.

The BBC reports that Metropolitan Police officers working on Operation Yewtree arrested a man in his 60s "on suspicion of sexual offenses" and had taken him to a central London police station.

Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt said: "He is, as we speak, being questioned by detectives."

Operation Yewtree was launched to investigate historic allegations of sex offenses after revelations that the late TV personality Jimmy Savile had abused underage girls both at the BBC and several hospitals.

The operation has three specific parts, one looking solely at the actions of Jimmy Savile; a second part investigating allegations against "Savile and others"; and a third part looks at alleged complaints against other people unconnected to the Jimmy Savile investigations.

According to the Guardian, Scotland Yard refused to comment on the identity of the arrestee, but in a statement said: "The individual falls under the strand of the investigation we have termed 'others'."

Clifford, 69, is the fifth person to be arrested since Operation Yewtree started. The arrestees span the lengths of British media including singer Gary Glitter, comedian Freddie Starr and DJ Dave Lee Travis, according to the Guardian. Former BBC producer Wilfred De'Ath was also arrested and bailed.

According to Sky News, Scotland Yard said last month that it was dealing with about 450 potential victims. The majority of the victims claim to have been abused by Savile, who died last year at age 84.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.