OFF GUARD
Nicola Sturgeon shell-shocked after cops swooped on her home to arrest her husband in dawn raid
FORMER First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was left shell-shocked after cops sensationally swooped on her home to arrest her husband in a dawn raid.
It’s believed the stunned ex SNP supremo was in the pad when dozens of officers raided it at 7.35am and lifted Peter Murrell following a probe into SNP party finances.
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The 58-year-old was taken into custody and quizzed by police as searches were carried out at the property and at the Nats HQ in Edinburgh.
It’s thought the ex FM was then seen getting into a waiting black Volvo Xc90 at around 8am as teams swept her house in the dramatic early morning blitz.
Mr Murrell was released later in the evening without charge “pending further investigation”.
Police Scotland said: “A 58-year-old man who was arrested as a suspect earlier today, Wednesday 5 April, 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 after he was arrested at 7.45am. He was released from custody at 6.57pm.”
We told earlier how a large police presence swooped on the couple's home in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, early this morning.
Police were seen searching the couple's home and erected a tent in the front garden.
The house was also cordoned off with police tape as officers stood guard.
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And cops eventually placed big blue walls up to protect the house amid the ongoing search.
Mr Murrell's car is still parked outside the home plugged into an electric charger.
We also told how police have conducted searches at the SNP's HQ in Edinburgh this morning.
Police Scotland have been investigating about £600,000 which was earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning.
Mr Murrell stepped down as chief executive of the SNP - a role he had held for more than 20 years - during the recent leadership campaign.
The 58-year-old has been married Ms Sturgeon since 2010.
A spokesperson for Ms Sturgeon said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on a live police investigation. Nicola Sturgeon had no prior knowledge of Police Scotland’s action or intentions.
“Ms Sturgeon will fully cooperate with Police Scotland if required, however at this time no such request has been made.”
An SNP spokesman said: “The SNP have been cooperating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so.”
However, they said that following recent criticism of Mr Murrell’s running of the SNP the party’s ruling body was taking steps to be more transparent.
They added: “At its meeting on Saturday, the governing body of the SNP, the NEC, agreed to a review of governance and transparency.”
The Crown Office said it “will continue to work with police”.
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It added: “It is standard practice that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the law officers.”
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