UK police raid journalist’s home

Officers have searched the London residence of a pro-Palestinian activist, seizing electronic devices under anti-terrorism laws

UK counterterrorism police raided the London home of a journalist and associate editor of the Electronic Intifada website on Thursday, seizing several electronic devices. Asa Winstanley is known for his criticism of Israel’s military operation in Gaza.

Police officers arrived at Winstanley’s home with warrants and a letter reportedly informing him that police were investigating “possible offenses” related to his social media posts, according to an article on the Electronic Intifada.

The letter from the Counter Terrorism Command of the Metropolitan Police Service stated that authorities were aware of Winstanley’s profession as a journalist, but that “notwithstanding, police are investigating possible offenses” under sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006, which relate to the offense of “encouragement of terrorism.”

The Electronic Intifada is a US-based website founded in 2001, which describes itself as “an independent online news publication focusing on Palestine.”

“Approximately ten officers arrived at Winstanley’s North London home before 6am and served the journalist with warrants and other papers authorizing them to search his house and vehicle for devices and documents,” the website said.

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Winstanley was not arrested and has not been charged with any offense, but police confiscated his electronic devices, according to the publication.

The journalist, who has more than 100,000 followers on X (formerly Twitter), frequently shares articles, opinions and his own comments about Israeli actions against Palestinians and the British government’s support for the hostilities in Gaza.

Earlier this month, Winstanley wrote an extensive article about Israel’s alleged killing of its own citizens on October 7, 2023, using Apache helicopters and tanks, while blaming the deaths on Hamas.

In recent months, Winstanley has also reported on arrests and raids by the British counterterrorism police targeting other journalists and pro-Palestine activists.

In August, UK police arrested British journalist Richard Medhurst under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000 on charges of “expressing an opinion or a belief that is supportive of a proscribed organization.” He was eventually released, but his phone and work equipment were seized, while Medhurst himself was subjected to a search and questioning.

The journalist has long been a vocal supporter of Palestine and the right of its people to resist Israeli occupation.