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24th Jan 2019

Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond arrested

He will appear in court later today

Oli Dugmore

He will appear in court later today

Former first minister of Scotland and leader of the SNP Alex Salmond has been arrested and charged.

He will appear in court later today.

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “We can confirm a 64 year-old man has been arrested and charged and a report has been sent to the procurator fiscal. Proceedings are now live under the contempt of court act.”

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 08: Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond delivers a statement outside the Court of Session January 08, 2019 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Scotland's former first minister is pursuing a judicial review of the process the Scottish government used to investigate two complaints of sexual harassment made against him last January. He denies the charges and claims the government investigation was "unfair and unjust." (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

The 64-year-old is due to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court but is not currently in custody following his arrest on Wednesday, STV reports.

Police did not say what Salmond, who served as first minister from 2007 to 2014, is charged with. Two people have made harassment complaints against the SNP grandee but he denies them and took successful legal action against the Scottish government over their investigation.

Earlier this month a court said the government’s decisions were “procedurally unfair and… tainted with apparent bias”.

At the time Salmond said he is “not guilty of any criminality whatsoever.”

The party leader resigned following the loss of the Scottish independence referendum but represented Gordon in the House of Commons from 2015 to 2017.