Top BBC broadcaster suspended after allegedly paying teen for sexually explicit photos

A top newscaster with the BBC has been suspended after allegations that he paid thousands of pounds for sexually explicit photos of a teenager, the network said Sunday.

Britain's publicly supported broadcaster said it was investigating "a complex and fast-moving set of circumstances" surrounding the unnamed presenter, according to a statement obtained by The Associated Press. The BBC added that it was "working as quickly as possible to establish the facts in order to properly inform appropriate next steps."

The BBC has been thrown into turmoil as a result of the allegations, and British lawmakers have begun investigating the incident. The allegations were first reported on Friday by U.K. tabloid The Sun, which claimed that the male newscaster had paid a 17-year-old teen more than £35,000 ($45,000) over three years in exchange for sending him sexually explicit photos. The Sun cited the teen's mother, who told the tabloid her child had used the money to fund a crack cocaine habit.

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While the age of consent in the U.K. is 16, it is illegal to possess sexually explicit images of people under 18.

The BBC said it was in touch with "external authorities," but did not specify any agencies. The broadcaster also admitted they had been made aware of the alleged situation this past May, and said they "have robust internal processes in place to proactively deal with such allegations." British Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer tweeted that she had "spoken to BBC Director General Tim Davie about the deeply concerning allegations involving one of its presenters. He has assured me the BBC is investigating swiftly and sensitively."

A number of top BBC newscasters have already distanced themselves from the allegations. Gary Lineker, identified by Deadline as the BBC's highest-paid presenter, tweeted, "It's not me." Other BBC personalities have also denied their involvement.