LONDON (AP) — The speaker of the U.K.'s House of Commons said Wednesday he tipped off police that Peter Mandelson, the former ambassador to the U.S. who is facing accusations of leaking information to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was a possible flight risk.
Mandelson was arrested Monday at his north London home on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was released on bail early Tuesday morning after more than nine hours of questioning.
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Journalists gather outside the home of Lord Peter Mandelson following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, in London, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (James Manning/PA via AP)
In this photo taken from video by Sky News, Britain's former ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson is seen in a vehicle leaving a police station in London in the early hours of Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (Sky News Exclusive via AP)
Peter Mandelson is seen outside his home in north west London, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (James Manning/PA via AP)
FILE - Peter Mandelson leaves his home in Wiltshire, England, Feb. 20, 2026. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP, File)
This image taken from video made available by Sky News shows Peter Mandelson, center, escorted from a house to a car, in London, Monday Feb. 23, 2026. (Sky News via AP)
Lawyers for Mandelson, a former senior Cabinet minister, said the arrest was the result of a “baseless suggestion” that he planned to flee the country and was carried out despite an agreement that he would speak to London's Metropolitan Police voluntarily.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle told lawmakers that he passed “relevant” information to police, without disclosing the source.
“To prevent any inaccurate speculation I’d like to confirm that, upon receipt of information, that I felt it was relevant I pass this on to the Metropolitan Police in good faith, as is my duty and responsibility," Hoyle said. “It is regrettable this rapidly ended in the media."
Hoyle added that it would not be appropriate for him to say anything further because the investigation into Mandelson was ongoing.
The police force later apologized to Hoyle for “inadvertently revealing information,” after reports that police had told Mandelson's lawyers about the speaker's tipoff.
“Peter Mandelson’s overriding priority is to cooperate with the police investigation, as he has done throughout this process, and to clear his name," his lawyers at the firm Mishcon De Reya said after his release.
Mandelson's arrest came four days after the former Prince Andrew was arrested on a similar suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to Epstein.
Both men face allegations that they passed confidential government information to the disgraced financier. The claims surfaced after the U.S. Justice Department last month released a trove of more than 3 million pages of Epstein-related documents.
Mandelson, 72, appears to have sent Epstein, whom he referred to as his “best pal,” sensitive government information that could potentially influence markets when he was a senior minister in the British government in 2009 and 2010.
One internal government report discussed possibly selling government assets to raise money for the U.K. after the 2008 global financial crisis. He also appeared to tell Epstein — who died by suicide in a New York prison in 2019 — he would lobby other members of the government to reduce a tax on bankers’ bonuses.
Payment records suggest Epstein gave Mandelson or his husband, Reinaldo Avila da Silva, $75,000 in 2003 and 2004. Mandelson said he had no recollection of receiving that money and questioned the authenticity of bank statements. He has denied wrongdoing.
Mandelson does not face allegations of sexual misconduct.
The former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, has also denied any wrongdoing over his links to convicted sex offender Epstein, but has not directly responded to the latest allegations stemming from the so-called Epstein Files.
Journalists gather outside the home of Lord Peter Mandelson following his arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office, in London, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (James Manning/PA via AP)
In this photo taken from video by Sky News, Britain's former ambassador to the U.S. Peter Mandelson is seen in a vehicle leaving a police station in London in the early hours of Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. (Sky News Exclusive via AP)
Peter Mandelson is seen outside his home in north west London, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (James Manning/PA via AP)
FILE - Peter Mandelson leaves his home in Wiltshire, England, Feb. 20, 2026. (Ben Birchall/PA via AP, File)
This image taken from video made available by Sky News shows Peter Mandelson, center, escorted from a house to a car, in London, Monday Feb. 23, 2026. (Sky News via AP)
JERUSALEM (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a rousing welcome from Israeli lawmakers on Wednesday at the start of a two-day visit as he promised “friendship, respect and partnership” with Israel at a time when its world standing has suffered because of the war in Gaza.
“Let us ensure that the friendship between India and Israel remains a source of strength in an uncertain world,” Modi said in an address to the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, where he received a standing ovation from lawmakers after a 30-minute speech.
The enthusiastic greeting underscored how much closer Israel-India relations have grown under Modi, whose embrace of Israel has marked a shift in the foreign policy of India which has historically supported the Palestinians.
India did not establish full diplomatic ties with Israel until 1992 and Modi's visit aims to strengthen security, economic and technological cooperation between the two countries.
The Indian leader was greeted at the airport with a hug from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who later introduced Modi to the Knesset as “Narendra, my dear friend.”
“I’ve never been more moved than by your visit here with us,” said Netanyahu, calling Modi “a great friend of Israel, a great champion of the Israel-India alliance and a great leader on the world stage.”
The visit is likely to give Israel a boost of international support after seeing relations with many of its allies deteriorate since the war in Gaza began in October 2023.
The Knesset building in Jerusalem had been illuminated in the colors of India's flag on the eve of Modi's arrival. Following his speech to lawmakers, Modi was awarded a medal by Speaker Amir Ohana, who said it recognized Modi's leadership in strengthening relations between India and Israel.
Opposition party lawmakers walked out of the Knesset chamber during speeches by Netanyahu and Ohana, to protest the exclusion from the event of Yitzhak Amit, the chief justice of Israel's Supreme Court.
Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, has sought to overhaul the country's justice system, and his allies refuse to work with the Supreme Court chief.
The opposition returned for Modi's address and the opposition leader, Yair Lapid, assured the Indian leader that the walkout had “nothing to do with you.”
On Thursday, Modi will meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial center. Netanyahu's office said that the two leaders would sign myriad economic, security and political cooperation agreements.
Modi said India is “committed to further consolidating” its relationship with Israel “across many sectors,” including security and the sharing of advances in artificial intelligence and quantum technology.
“We’re committed to expanding trade, strengthening investment flows and promoting joint infrastructure development,” Modi said.
In addition to being a powerful ally, India is also Israel’s second largest trading partner in Asia. Total trade between India and Israel was valued at $3.6 billion in the 2025 fiscal year, according to India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Modi became the first Indian prime minister to travel to Israel in 2017, and Netanyahu reciprocated with a trip to India the following year.
A staunch Hindu nationalist, Modi was one of the first global leaders to swiftly express solidarity with Israel following the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by the Palestinian militant Hamas group that triggered the war in Gaza.
Speaking at the Knesset before Modi took the podium, Netanyahu thanked the Indian leader for that support.
“You didn’t flinch. You didn’t waver. You didn’t give excuses,” Netanyahu said. “You stood next to Israel. You stood by Israel.”
In turn, Modi affirmed India's “strong support” for the U.S. ceasefire plan for Gaza that was endorsed by the U.N. Security Council last year. It lays out plans for ending Hamas' rule, disarming the militant group, rebuilding the territory and withdrawing Israeli troops with only a vague commitment to possible Palestinian statehood.
“We believe that it holds the promise of a just and durable peace for all the people of the region, including the Palestine issue,” Modi said.
Modi made no mention of Israel’s newly approved measures to deepen its control over the occupied West Bank. India was among more than 100 countries earlier this month to condemn those measures, which weaken the already limited powers of the Palestinian Authority.
Melzer reported from Nahariya, Israel.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, addresses lawmakers in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israel's Parliament Speaker Amir Ohana presents a medal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi , after addressing lawmakers in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greet children in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, in Jerusalem, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (Debbie Hill/Pool Photo via AP)
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, welcomes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, centre left, poses next to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, centre right, and his wife Sara Netanyahu, foreground right, as he arrives at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to meet with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives to receive Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for a delegation-level meeting at Hyderabad house in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
