British journalist held by police at Luton airport for five hours without arrest

Matt Broomfield, who has worked in Kurdish-controlled north-east Syria, had his phone and laptop seized when he was questioned last month

A British freelance journalist who previously worked in the Kurdish-controlled part of Syria was held by counter-terrorism police at Luton airport for five hours without being arrested last month under controversial powers of detention.

Matt Broomfield, 29, said he was met by police as he got off a plane from Belgrade with his girlfriend on 24 August and was taken aside for questioning, where he was asked do you consider your reporting objective" and his opinions of the British state. Police told Broomfield they were engaged in a mopping up operation". They seized his phone and laptop and have since refused to return them. After the questioning ended, he was allowed to proceed and no police action has followed.