A left-wing French publisher who was arrested by counter-terror police at St Pancras was grilled on his views about Emmanuel Macron and asked to name “anti-Government” authors he works with, his firm has claimed.
The arrest of Ernest Moret, a foreign rights manager with French publisher Editions La Fabrique, at St Pancras on Monday sparked criticism, with two publishers and the National Union of Journalists condemning it.
He was bailed on Tuesday.
In an update, Mr Moret’s company said he was grilled by counter-terror police on “his point of view on the pension reform in France, on the French government, on Emmanuel Macron,” and asked to name “anti-government” authors the publisher works with.
Mr Moret’s phone and work computer have also been kept for analysis, the publishing firm said.
He had been on his way to the London Book Fair, a major publishing expo held at Kensington Olympia, when he was arrested.
Mr Moret’s employer said it was “relieved” that he had been released but said that it was shocked by his arrest and the questions asked of him.
“Beyond the scandalous situation of counterterrorism investigating the political and philosophical opinions and perspectives of people who are detained, none of these questions should be relevant to a British police officer,” it said.
“Moreover, to ask the representative of a publishing house questions, in a counterterrorism framework, about the opinions of its authors, is to take the logic of political censorship and repression of dissenting currents of thought even further.
“In a context of the authoritarian escalation of the French government faced by social movements, this element is chilling.”
The Met has refused to comment on what was said to Mr Moret during police interviews.
The force said in a statement: “At around 1930hrs on Monday, 17 April, a 28-year-old man was stopped by ports officers as he arrived at St Pancras station, using powers under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.”
“On Tuesday, 18 April, the man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of wilfully obstructing a Schedule 7 examination (contrary to section 18 of the Terrorism Act 2000). Enquiries continue.”
Under the power used by police, people at border crossings can be stopped to check they are not involved in terrorism without grounds.
Pamela Morton, senior books and magazine organiser at the National Union of Journalists, said it “seems extraordinary” that British police used terror legislation to arrest a publisher “who was on legitimate business here”.
An open letter was also organised in France which had earlier called on police to release Mr Moret.
His publisher said it was calling for “the dropping of all proceedings and prosecutions” against him and the return of his phone and computer.
French diplomatic officials said the publisher was offered consular assistance during his arrest.
The Standard has contacted the Met for further comment.
