Police use terror powers to seize BBC Newsnight journalist's laptop

  • BBC

A Newsnight journalist has been forced to hand over his laptop by police using powers under the Terrorism Act, the BBC has said.

Secunder Kermani, who has interviewed British-born jihadis and so-called Islamic State (IS) fighters, was forced by officers to hand over the laptop after they secured an order from a judge.

Police obtained the order earlier this year to seize communications between Kermani, who joined the programme last year, and a man in Syria who had publicly identified himself as an IS member.

Editor of Newsnight, Ian Katz said: "While we would not seek to obstruct any police investigation we are concerned that the use of the Terrorism Act to obtain communication between journalists and sources will make it very difficult for reporters to cover this issue of critical public interest."

Kermani, who has previously worked for BBC London, Channel 4 News and the Islam Channel, thanked Twitter followers for their "support and solidarity".

Press freedom campaigner Jo Glanville, director of English PEN, said that there was "hysteria" around terrorism.

She told The Independent: "If journalists go near something to do with terrorism the police can use the Terrorism Act to go after their sources."

Islamic State fighters have captured large swathes of Iraq and Syria. Credit: Reuters

Police have far-reaching powers under Section 32 of the Terrorism Act 2000 which deems any police inquiry into the "commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism" to be termed a "terrorism investigation".

Kermani was criticised last year for a Newsnight interview with a British-born IS fighter who he developed contact with over several months.

"Awlaki", a 27-year-old British Pakistani fighter, told Kermani he hated the UK and joked about the group beheading its enemies.

Conservative MPs Michael Ellis and Nigel Evans lambasted the BBC programme for running the interview, saying it gave the group a mainstream media platform.

The BBC said the report "offered insights" into IS crimes.

Commenting on the laptop incident, a spokesperson for the BBC said: