London, Jul 14 (IANS): A former deputy editor of the News Of The World tabloid was Thursday arrested in the phone hacking case, Sky News reported.

Police swooped in at the home of 60-year-old Neil Wallis in west London early Thursday.

His arrest was part of "Operation Weeting" - the investigation into mobile phone interceptions by the tabloid's journalists.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said another man was detained for questioning on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications.

The tabloid is accused of hacking into phones of crime victims, celebrities and politicians. Police identified 4,000 possible targets, leading to owner Rupert Murdoch ordering its closure.

In January 2007, royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were both jailed for plotting to intercept voice mail messages.

Wallis had joined the News Of The World as deputy editor in 2003, and served under former editor Andy Coulson, who was arrested last week.

He became executive editor of the tabloid in 2007 when Coulson left.

Coulson and Goodman have been released on bail.