Australian broadcaster Rolf Harris arrested in Jimmy Savile sexual abuse probe

Veteran Australian entertainer Rolf Harris has been named as the 11th man to be detained as part of Operation Yewtree, an investigation launched in the wake of the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal. Harris' alleged offences, however, are not linked to Savile.

The 82-year-old was not named Harris was not named by the media for legal reasons until The Sun carried a report naming him on Friday. The publication reported that the Australian entertainer who has been a fixture of British TV for more than 40 years, was arrested on March 28 by Operation Yewtree police.

The police first raided Harris' home on November 24 last year, but he was not at home. On November 29, he was interviewed by the South London police, The Sun reported.

Refusing to divulge any details about Harris, the police said that the suspect has been bailed to a date in May, pending further probe, The Sun reported. Harris, who once painted the Queen, is understood to have denied all allegations against him.

According to The Sun, former Surrey police detective, Mark Williams-Thomas, who exposed Savile first named Harris on Twitter five months ago. After The Sun carried the news report on Friday, Williams-Thomas tweeted:

Rolf Harris interview and arrest was part of OP Yewtree set up after the Savile exposure - but is in the 'Other' category

— Mark Williams-Thomas (@mwilliamsthomas) April 19, 2013

Russell Brand was one of the celebrities who named Harris online.

Oh rolferoo not you too.#canyoutellwhatitisyet

— Russell Brand (@rustyrockets) March 29, 2013

Other celebrities arrested over sexual abuse allegations include Freddie Starr, Jim Davidson, Dave Lee Travis, PR guru Max Clifford and Gary Glitter.

During Savile's lifetime, sporadic allegations of child abuse were made against him, but only became widely publicised after his death.