Tourist takes selfie in Brighton, arrested on terrorism offences

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A tourist was arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences after taking a selfie video in Brighton.

Nasser Al-Ansari, 38, said he was filming a video of himself on his mobile phone outside a shopping centre in Brighton when the incident happened, according to the Argus.

Mr Al-Ansari, from Kuwait, said he was then taken to a car park by officers and held on suspicion of terrorism offences for three hours.

He explained: “I said, ‘I am 100 per cent co-operative. I will go wherever you wish, I just want to go home’.”

He says that police kept his mobile phone in order to examine it.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Betts, from Brighton and Hove CID, confirmed to the Daily Mail that Mr Al-Ansari had been arrested under the Terrorism Act and released after "an assessment was made and there was no immediate threat."

"However, it was not possible at the time to examine his mobile phone, so an investigation continues in order to establish if it contains any evidence of a criminal offence. This will be completed as soon as possible and the phone will be returned to him if there is no reason to retain it further."

Following the attack in Tunisia last week, the UK’s official terror threat remains “severe”, meaning that a terrorist attack in this country is regarded as “highly likely”. Police have increased their presence at a number of events in recent days, including Wimbledon and Armed Forces Day.

38 people were killed in the massacre on a Tunisian beach, including 30 Britons. The UK is also preparing to mark the 10th anniversary of the 7/7 bombings next week.

Across the UK, a minute’s silence was observed today at midday to mourn those who lost their lives in the attack in Tunisia.

The Independent has contacted Sussex Police for comment.