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Met Police reportedly raid home and seize devices of anti-Zionist journalist Asa Winstanley
The associate editor of the pro-Palestine website is reportedly being investigated for the ‘encouragement of terrorism’
October 19, 2024 06:34
The associate editor of the pro-Palestine website is reportedly being investigated for the ‘encouragement of terrorism’
October 19, 2024 06:34Counter-terrorism police officers allegedly raided the home and seized several electronic devices belonging to Asa Winstanley, a journalist at Electronic Intifada, a pro-Palestinian website.
According to a post on the website, approximately 10 officers arrived at the north London home of the anti-Zionist journalist on Thursday morning where the officers reportedly served Winstanley with warrants and papers, authorising them to search his home and vehicle for “devices and documents”.
In a letter addressed to Winstanley from the “Counter Terrorism Command” of the Metropolitan Police Service, officers allegedly informed him that he was being investigated under sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism Act (2006), for the purported offence of “encouragement of terrorism”, according to the Electronic Intifada.
An officer conducting the raid told Winstanley that the investigation was linked to some of his social media posts, according to the report.
Winstanley’s devices were reportedly seized, but he was not arrested or charged with any offence.
In 2022, Winstanley wrote a book downplaying the extent of Labour antisemitism in the Corbyn years and is an outspoken supporter of disgraced former Bristol academic, David Miller.
Last year, following Hamas’ October 7 attack, Winstanley sought to blame Israel for civilians deaths during the massacre, saying that the IDF had killed its own people.
The Met Police said: “We can confirm that officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command executed a search warrant at an address in Wembley on 17 October.
"This was carried out as part of an ongoing investigation into suspected terrorism offences contrary to section 12 of the Terrorism Act (TACT), 2000 (support of a proscribed organisation) and sections 1 and 2, TACT 2006 (dissemination of terrorist documents).
“No arrests were made and officers seized various electronic devices from the address under section 50 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act, 2001. Enquiries continue.”