Independent journalist Richard Medhurst was detained by Austrian authorities last week after a police raid on his residence in Vienna, following his arrest last year by British Police when arriving at a London airport.
The latest operation against him was conducted by Austrian police and intelligence agents, and executed under a warrant alleging Medhurst’s association with Hamas, a Palestinian resistance movement.
During the raid, authorities confiscated all of Medhurst’s electronic devices, including his journalistic tools. He was detained for approximately six to seven hours, during which he was fingerprinted, had his DNA collected, and was photographed before being released.
Medhurst, known for his critical reporting on Israel’s actions in Gaza, has categorically denied the accusations. “I am not a terrorist. I am a journalist, and they bloody well know it,” he stated following his release. He described the incident as an alarming escalation, comparing it to his previous arrest in the UK.
In August 2024, Medhurst was arrested at London’s Heathrow Airport under Section 12 of the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000, which pertains to supporting a proscribed organization. He was held for nearly 24 hours, and his electronic devices were seized at that time as well.
Following his detention in Austria, Medhurst released a video statement detailing the sequence of events. He recounted that Austrian immigration authorities had summoned him under the pretext of an interview regarding his residency status. Upon arrival, he was met by plainclothes agents who detained him and later searched his home and studio, seizing various documents and electronic devices. He noted that some of the allegations against him mirrored those made in the UK, raising concerns about possible collaboration between British and Austrian authorities.
Medhurst provided a detailed statement about his experience:
“My name is Richard Medhurst. I’m an internationally accredited journalist from the UK. On Monday, agents from the Austrian police and intelligence services detained me, raided my home, raided my studio, and then interrogated me. They essentially lured me into a trap.
I received a letter from the government last week from immigration summoning me for an interview about my residency. I found it a bit odd because I’ve lived here for a while and never had any problems. Having nothing to fear, I went there by myself. After a few simple questions, they suddenly issued a thinly veiled threat, saying they were considering revoking my residency because of my alleged reporting on Palestine and Lebanon. Of course, my answer was no comment. As soon as I thought everything was over, I was ambushed by a group of plainclothes agents who entered the room flashing their badges in my face. They said they were the Austrian equivalent of MI5 or the FBI. They detained me and then served me with a warrant from the state prosecutor to search my home and studio and seize all of my devices.
Why? Because they think that I, a Christian Englishman, am a member of Hamas. Yes, you heard that correctly. They are accusing me of being a member of Hamas, of being part of the Qassam Brigades, of disseminating propaganda, encouraging terrorism, and being affiliated with organized crime. It’s like reading something out of The Twilight Zone.
They seized my phone, then drove me to my residence and ransacked the place. They even took devices that I repeatedly told them do not belong to me. Then they drove me to my studio and turned the place upside down. I had to watch my devices being disassembled before my very eyes by a group of strangers – all these tools that I spent years building and investing in. In total, they took five or six different laptops and computers, phones, USB sticks, hard drives, DVDs – you name it. Although the warrant was for electronic devices only, for some reason, they took photos of my residence, my office, my bathroom, and helped themselves to books, papers, and documents.
To tell you the truth, though, the agents treated me kindly and with respect. They didn’t deny me any of my basic needs. But as you recall, I was unjustly arrested a few months ago in London, where they jailed me for almost 24 hours under the terrorism act. Strangely enough, last week, the police in England again extended this investigation, and then suddenly this happens in Vienna. I don’t think that is mere coincidence.
The first thing I asked the Austrian agents was: Did my government put you up to this? They replied, ‘No, Britain doesn’t talk to us.’ Forgive me, but I find that a bit hard to believe. I do think that this persecution, this raid, is related to the case in Britain. I think it’s being coordinated with Britain.
Now, my colleague Stefania Maurizi, who worked on the Snowden papers with Glenn Greenwald, reported last month in Il Fatto Quotidiano that the British police seized a GrapheneOS device from me and that it was very unlikely they’d be able to crack it. So, I suppose that’s why Britain asked the Austrians to raid me – grab anything they could find and go on this massive fishing expedition. The warrant even mentions my arrest in London to try and bolster their case. The Austrian agents asked me for the passwords to my devices, and I said no, because as a journalist, I have an ethical and professional obligation to protect my sources. None of them were compromised during the raid.
After watching all of my gear being dismantled, I was ordered under this warrant to participate in an interrogation. The agents took me to the station, and I said two words: ‘No comment.’ That was it. Then they fingerprinted me, palm-printed me, took mug shots and my DNA. After six to seven hours, I was finally allowed to leave.
I categorically deny all of these accusations by the British and Austrian governments. I’m not a terrorist. I am a journalist, and they bloody well know it. Some of these Austrian accusations are very similar to the British ones, which again tells me that this is somehow coordinated. This is a massive escalation – they are accusing me of being a member of a proscribed organization. This is insanity on another level. This is detached from reality. Because of my reporting, I am under investigation for ‘terrorism’ in two countries. I could face up to 14 years in prison in the UK, plus another two to five years if I don’t give them the passwords to my phones, and maybe another 10 years in Austria, with my residency potentially being revoked.
This is an attack on journalism, on freedom of speech, and on democracy itself. I urge everyone to raise awareness and stand against this injustice.”
The incident has sparked concern among press freedom advocates, who warn that such actions pose a threat to journalistic integrity. Organizations monitoring the case emphasize the importance of protecting journalists who report on sensitive international issues, particularly those critical of state policies.
Medhurst himself has previously addressed the UN. Approximately four months ago, he delivered a speech in Geneva focusing on Palestine and the UK’s crackdown on free speech. In his address, Medhurst highlighted concerns about the suppression of journalistic freedoms and the challenges faced by reporters covering sensitive international issues. This speech underscores his active engagement in international forums advocating for press freedom.
While the UN has not publicly commented on Medhurst’s recent detention, other organizations have expressed their concerns. The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a joint statement condemning his arrest under anti-terrorism legislation. They emphasized that such actions could have a chilling effect on journalism and urged authorities to use their powers proportionately.
As Medhurst awaits further legal proceedings, the case is expected to draw scrutiny from human rights organizations and international media watchdogs.
