Journalism is apparently terrorism: Met Police

Since writing my last post a few days ago about the David Miranda case, further details have come out about the contents of the 'Port Circular' that was sent to Heathrow requesting Miranda's detention while in transit on his way back to Brazil.

From Saturday's Guardian:

We assess that Miranda is knowingly carrying material, the release of which would endanger people's lives. Additionally the disclosure or threat of disclosure is designed to influence a government, and is made for the purpose of promoting a political or ideological cause. This therefore falls within the definition of terrorism and as such we request that the subject is examined under schedule 7.

So there you have it folks.  Things are actually much worse than I had feared.  Journalism is officially viewed by the Metropolitan Police and the Home Office as a form of terrorism.

Those folks at Generation Opportunity whose creepy ads have been encouraging young people not to buy health insurance better consider cancelling their planned holiday in England, or they might find themselves detained at Heathrow.

An act of terrorism (in all sorts of ways).

By encouraging people not to buy health insurance they are endangering lives, the purpose is to influence a government, and it is in pursuit of an ideological or political cause.  Anyone associated with Fox News better consider avoiding England too for that matter.

Additionally, Carl Gardiner has very usefully posted on his blog, along with a helpful commentary, the full statement of facts and grounds prepared by Matthew Ryder QC, Ed Craven and Raj Desai, outlining the grounds of the application for judicial review of the decision to use Schedule 7.

The Court is going to be asked to decide whether journalism can be terrorism: this is going all the way to the Supreme Court.