BBC: Police used terrorism powers to seize reporter’s computer

LONDON – The BBC says police used anti-terrorism laws to seize the computer of a reporter who has interviewed supporters of the Islamic State group.

The broadcaster said Thursday that police had obtained an order from a judge under the Terrorism Act “requiring the BBC to hand over communication between a Newsnight journalist and a man in Syria who had publicly identified himself as an IS member.”

The BBC said the man had appeared in reports by journalist Secunder Kermani and was not a confidential source.

Newsnight editor Ian Katz said he was concerned that the use counterterrorism powers “will make it very difficult for reporters to cover this issue of critical public interest.”

The Southeast Counterterrorism Unit said orders under the Terrorism Act “are used proportionately and on a case-by-case basis.”