Townshend questioned on porn charges

‘‘Townshend has been at the station this evening answering questions from police. He has not been charged,’’ the musician’s lawyer John Cohen said. ‘‘He’s been bailed to come back perhaps at a future occasion if they want him to answer more questions.’’

Townshend was arrested on Monday after police involved in Britain’s largest-ever operation against paedophilia descended on the rock star’s mansion in Richmond, southwest London.

Townshend, who has said he believes he was abused as a child, acknowledged on Saturday he had downloaded child pornography from the Internet but insisted he had done it for research purposes.

‘‘I am not a paedophile. I think paedophilia is appalling,’’ the guitarist, who is married with three children, said in a statement. Hours before he was arrested he told the Sun newspaper he had worked ‘‘tirelessly’’ to help the abused but had been foolish to wage a one-man battle against child pornography.

He said he was outraged when he first came across child pornography websites six years ago when surfing the Internet with his son Joseph, now 16.

Popstar Elton John said on Monday he was ‘‘very shocked’’ by news of Townshend’s arrest. I hope it’s not as bad as it sounds,’’ John said backstage at the American Music Awards. ‘‘I’m a friend of Pete’s. I love Pete, and my thoughts are with him.’’