Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been released without charge pending further investigation after being arrested in connection with a police probe into the Scottish National Party's finances.
"A 52-year-old woman who was arrested earlier today... has been released without charge pending further investigation," Police Scotland said in a statement.
"The woman was questioned by Police Scotland detectives after she was arrested at 10.09am. She was released from custody at 5.24pm," the statement added.
A report is to be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
A spokesperson for Ms Sturgeon said the former SNP leader had voluntarily attended an interview with police.
The finance probe scandal has plunged the SNP into deep crisis and damaged its dream for an independent Scotland.
Labour's shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray reacted to the latest news by saying: "For too long, a culture of secrecy and cover-up has been allowed to fester at the heart of the SNP."
Meanwhile, Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: "It's fair to say that today's events will have huge ramifications both for the SNP and the future of Scottish politics."
Ms Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, was arrested in April as part of the probe.
At the time, police raided the Glasgow home shared by the couple, erecting a crime-scene tent in the front garden, and SNP headquarters in Edinburgh.
Murrell has long faced questions over the alleged diversion of £600,000 (€700,000) in SNP donations that were meant to support its drive for Scottish independence.
He also failed to declare a personal loan to the party of more than £100,000.
Party treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested in April.
Ms Sturgeon made her final appearance as First Minister in the Scottish Parliament in March.
After more than eight years at the helm, Ms Sturgeon said in February that she lacked the "energy" to carry on and was stepping down.
But the police investigation into Mr Murrell, whom she married in 2010, had been a cloud over her head.
Mr Murrell resigned from his SNP leadership post in March after the party falsely denied to media that it had lost 30,000 members.
The disclosure came as the SNP held a bitter election to replace Ms Sturgeon as party leader and Scotland's first minister, eventually won by Humza Yousaf.
Mr Yousaf denied that Ms Sturgeon had quit knowing the police investigation was about to come perilously close to home.
"Nicola's legacy stands on its own," he said.
Following Mr Murrell's arrest, Mr Yousaf said "clearly it's not great, and I think the sooner we can get to a conclusion in this police investigation, the better.
"I've never been an office bearer in the party, I've not had a role in the party finances," he added.
Mr Yousaf also said Mr Beattie's arrest was "clearly a very serious matter indeed" but added that he had not been suspended from the party as "people are innocent until proven guilty".
The affair has plunged the SNP into deep crisis and damaged its dream for an independent Scotland.
Recent surveys show only around 45% of Scots back their nation leaving the UK - the same minority recorded in a 2014 referendum, which London insists settled the matter for a generation.
