Sources told Reuters Saturday that European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde had confiscated the mobile phones of 26 members of the Governing Council in an unprecedented measure to prevent information leaks.

The decision to do so took place before the vote to choose the ECB's top banking regulator and was reversed following the selection of Deutsche Bundesbank Vice-President Claudia Buch to the role, according to the sources.

The phones were seized a day after the news agency announced that the bank would boost its main inflation prediction. According to Reuters, the data had an influence on many analysts' estimates, who were anticipating no interest rate rise from the ECB.

On Thursday, the ECB unexpectedly raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.5% per annum, a new all-time high, the regulator announced.

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