THE National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned a police raid on the home of the Electronic Intifada journalist Asa Winstanley as an abuse of counterterrorism legislation.

The union warned today that the growing use of the laws amounted to an intimidatory measure harmful to public interest journalism and press freedom, saying they were part of so-called Operation Incessantness.

NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: “Abuse and misuse of counterterror legislation has serious ramifications for public confidence in the police whilst directly threatening the safety of journalists.