PETER Mandelson has claimed he was arrested and taken into custody because the Metropolitan Police feared he was a flight risk.
The sacked US ambassador, 72, was led away from his home by cops on Monday as part of a probe into misconduct in public office – just days after former prince Andrew was quizzed by cops over the same offence.
Mandelson’s lawyers claimed: “Peter Mandelson was arrested yesterday despite an agreement with the police that he would attend an interview next month on a voluntary basis.
“The arrest was prompted by a baseless suggestion that he was planning to leave the country and take up permanent residence abroad.
“There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in any such suggestion.
“We have asked the MPS for the evidence relied upon to justify the arrest.
“Peter Mandelson’s overriding priority is to cooperate with the police investigation, as he has done throughout this process, and to clear his name.”
