The 63-point letter by solicitors Bindmans LLP, republished by The Guardian, seeks a declaration that the detention at Heathrow airport of David Miranda – the cohabiting partner of journalist Glenn Greewald who has been covering US and UK security services’ online spying operations – was unlawful.

The lawyers have also asked for an immediate undertaking to return Miranda’s electronic equipment that was seized during the search carried out under anti-terrorism legislation. [Guardian]

The Guardian’s editor, which has been breaking the majority of electronic interception stories leaked by National Security Agency (NSA) whistleblower Edward Snowden, wrote yesterday that the UK security services bullied the newspaper with prior restraint into destroying electronic equipment contained a copy of leaked files.