Miranda files risk UK national security

Top secret files seized from Brazilian David Miranda, the partner of the Guardian journalist Glenn Greenwald, who published American whistleblower Edward Snowdenâ„¢s revelations, would threaten the UKâ„¢s national security if disclosed, a government adviser has warned.

In a written statement to Londonâ„¢s High Court at a hearing on Friday, Oliver Robbins, deputy national security adviser in the Cabinet Office, said the documents taken from Miranda could Å“do serious damage” to the countryâ„¢s national security and also expose British spies to risk if published.

Å“The information … consists entirely of … material in the form of approximately 58,000 highly classified UK intelligence documents. I can confirm that the disclosure of this information would cause harm to UK national security,” Robins said.

Miranda, Greenwaldâ„¢s partner, was questioned for nine hours on August 18 at Heathrow Airport by six agents from Scotland Yard, while being held under the so-called Terrorist Act. The agents also confiscated all his electronic equipment, including his computer and a memory card.

Greenwald reported secret US surveillance programs revealed by Snowden in June. Documents leaked by the American whistleblower have blown the lid on top-secret spying programs run by the US government including a program codenamed PRISM for tracking the use of US-based web servers by people around the world.

SSM/HE