Former Scottish leader who championed independence questioned by police for political party's finances

LONDON -- Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she was "innocent of any wrongdoing" after facing hours of questioning in police custody on Sunday.

Sturgeon, a staunch independence supporter who resigned earlier this year, was questioning for several hours on Sunday in connection with an ongoing probe into her party's finances, Police Scotland said.

"The woman is in custody and being questions by Police Scotland detectives," the force said in a statement, which did not identify the former first minister by name. Sturgeon later identified herself as the person in custody, saying in a statement she was "in this situation."

Sturgeon was released about 7 hours later "without charge pending further investigation," police officials said in a follow-up statement.

The former first minister was the latest official to be questioned in the ongoing probe into the Scottish National Party's funding and finances.

Two other former or current SNP officials have been arrested, including Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, who served as the party's chief executive from 2000 to 2023. Murrell was arrested in April, police said at the time. Colin Beattie, the party's ex-treasurer, was also arrested, PA Media reported.

Sturgeon, who is currently minister for Glasgow Southside, said on Sunday that finding herself "in this situation" was a "shock" when she was "certain I have committed no offence."

"I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing," she wrote in a statement.