Britain faces furore over Edward Snowden-linked detention
21 Aug 2013 4:01 AM IST
A British lawmaker on Monday called for police to explain why the partner of a journalist who received classified information from former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden was detained for nearly nine hours at Heathrow Airport.
Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said that he wants to know why police stopped David Miranda, the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald. Miranda was held for nearly the maximum time authorities are allowed to detain individuals under the Terrorism Act's Schedule 7, which authorizes security agencies to stop and question people at borders.
Miranda's cellphone, laptops and memory sticks were confiscated, Greenwald said. ‘What needs to happen pretty rapidly is we need to establish the full facts,’ Vaz told the BBC.
‘Now you have a complaint from Mr. Greenwald and the Brazilian government, they indeed have said they are concerned at the use of terrorism legislation for something that does not appear to relate to terrorism, so it needs to be clarified, and clarified quickly.’
Miranda was stopped on Sunday while traveling home to Brazil after visiting Germany where he met with Laura Poitras, a US filmmaker who has worked with
Greenwald on the NSA story.
The Guardian reported it paid for Miranda's flights, but did not immediately respond to a request for elaboration on what his role with the newspaper might be, if any.
Keith Vaz, the chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said that he wants to know why police stopped David Miranda, the partner of Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald. Miranda was held for nearly the maximum time authorities are allowed to detain individuals under the Terrorism Act's Schedule 7, which authorizes security agencies to stop and question people at borders.
Miranda's cellphone, laptops and memory sticks were confiscated, Greenwald said. ‘What needs to happen pretty rapidly is we need to establish the full facts,’ Vaz told the BBC.
‘Now you have a complaint from Mr. Greenwald and the Brazilian government, they indeed have said they are concerned at the use of terrorism legislation for something that does not appear to relate to terrorism, so it needs to be clarified, and clarified quickly.’
Miranda was stopped on Sunday while traveling home to Brazil after visiting Germany where he met with Laura Poitras, a US filmmaker who has worked with
Greenwald on the NSA story.
The Guardian reported it paid for Miranda's flights, but did not immediately respond to a request for elaboration on what his role with the newspaper might be, if any.
Next Story
