The police search of Peter Murrell’s house extends to the garden

Forensic teams were also spotted combing the couple’s home as part of the police probe into allegations related to SNP’s finances.

Mr Murrell was arrested early Wednesday morning “as a suspect in relation to the ongoing investigation”.

He wasn’t charged.

As part of the investigation, the force searched the home Mr Murrell shares with his wife, the former First Minister of Scotland.

The SNP headquarters at Edinburgh’s Jackson’s Entry was also raided.

Mrs Sturgeon was not seen today. Neighbors said she was taken away at 8.10am, about 20 minutes before police arrived.

Pictures taken of the search at her home showed officers searching storage units and lifting the tarp covering the grill in the back garden.

There were fingertip searches over the fence and officers were going in and out of the house. A police officer was caught hauling an Amazon box, another was walking around with an open Macbook.

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They were all accompanied by an official police photographer who documented everything.

Police caution tape marked a cordon around the home while a forensic tent was erected on the front lawn.

In Edinburgh, four police cars were parked outside the party’s headquarters, just off the Royal Mile, a few minutes’ walk from the Scottish Parliament and close to the BBC Edinburgh studios.

They left at around 2:30 p.m., taking equipment and boxes with them.