UK police are under fire after they used anti-terror laws as a justification to arrest a French publisher, according to Breitbart.
The publisher is said to have engaged in anti-Macron protests throughout France. Ernest Moret, a reporter for Editions La Fabrique, was supposedly visiting the United Kingdom to attend the annual London Book Fair. However, Moret never made it that far as he was detained by local police, saying he was engaged in terrorist acts or in possession of material for use in terrorism..
Breitbart reports officers were concerned he was engaged in anti-government protests in France over President Macrons pension reforms.
A report by The Telegraph states that Editions La Fabrique says that Moret was taken on arrival at St Pancras Station in London when officers detained him using the anti-terrorism law.
The publisher said: On arrival at St Pancras Station, Ernest was pulled aside by police officers acting under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 and detained for questioning without a lawyer present, allegedly to determine whether he was engaged in terrorist acts or possession of material for use in terrorism.
He was formally arrested on Tuesday when he allegedly refused to turn over his phone and the passcode for that phone to officers. Officers are considering this as obstruction.
The publisher said: We consider these actions to be outrageous and unjustifiable infringements of basic principles of the freedom of expression and an example of the abuse of anti-terrorism laws.
A protest demanding Morets release was scheduled, but a Metropolitan Police spokesman said he was initially released on bail on Tuesday evening. Breitbart states the investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed against Moret.
Despite the use of the anti-terror law in this situation, many are concerned that the law is not being used nearly enough in cases of terrorists roaming the streets of London and other major UK cities. This concern is serious as there are loose immigration regulations and standards now.
A report from last week found that at least 19 individuals with links to Jihadi organizations such as the Islamic State have been lurking around the UK via the English Channel. It is unclear how many of these individuals who havent been detected might still be on the streets of London.
Arriving in the country on rafts and boats, many of these potential terror suspects have been housed in 4-star hotels at the expense of the UK taxpayer. Yet, despite this, the anti-terror law is being used against French journalists.
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