French publisher arrested in London for “terrorist acts” in form of *checks notes* lawful protests.
A troubling thing happened on the way to the London Books Fair: Ernest Moret, a French foreign rights manager with publisher Editions La Fabrique was stopped as he attempted to enter the UK at St Pancras train station under the pretense that he may have “engaged in terrorist acts.”
The acts? Protesting efforts by the French government to raise the retirement age, implying some kind of cooperation between the British and French governments.
Editions La Fabrique, in concert with Verso Books, issued a statement on the matter that explained that Moret was now under arrest in London:
It was demanded that he give up his phone and pass codes to the officers, with no justification or explanation offered. This morning, Ernest was formally arrested and transferred to a police station, accused of obstruction because of his refusal to give up his pass codes. He remains in police custody.
Protests have arisen in response to the London arrest (again, over Moret opposing changes to the retirement age in France?), with calls for the French ambassador, Helene Duchene, who will be present at the London Books Fair, to address the matter. What l’heck?
