Nasser Al-Ansari, from Kuwait, was arrested under the Terrorism Act after filming himself on his mobile phone outside a shopping centre

An Arab tourist was arrested under the Terrorism Act after filming himself on his mobile phone outside a shopping centre.

Nasser Al-Ansari was detained in a police van for three hours before police decided 'there was no immediate threat' - but officers kept his mobile phone for further investigation.

The 38-year-old had been recording a Snapchat condolence message in Arabic for terrorist bombing victims in his native Kuwait, where 27 were killed in a blast by ISIS last week.

He was ordered to delete the footage, taken outside Churchill Square shopping centre in Brighton, by a store security guard but refused because he did not see why he had to.

Security then called in the police for assistance.

Mr Al-Ansari said: 'I was filming a Snapchat selfie giving my condolences as there had been an incident in my home country, so it was just my face.

'I cannot even describe how I felt.

'I explained what happened and the police officer said, "can I have your phone?" I gave it to him.

'They took my phone and then detained me for about three hours. They took me by car to a car park.

'They said, "You are under arrest under article 41 of the Terrorism Act; anything you say can and will be used against you".

'I said, "I am 100 per cent co-operative. I will go wherever you wish, I just want to go home."'

Mr Al-Ansari was released without being taken into custody and then went back to the police station to try to get his iPhone, but was refused it.

The former banker, who has lived in London since 2013, said: 'It was a very horrible experience and unacceptable to happen without any specific reason or suspicion.

'It is absurd. It is not something I would expect when visiting somewhere in the UK.'

Mr Al-Ansari was detained in a police van for three hours before officers decided 'there was no immediate threat'

Mr Al-Ansari was ordered to delete the footage, taken outside Churchill Square shopping centre (pictured) in Brighton, by a store security guard

The 38-year-old had been recording a condolence message in Arabic for terrorist bombing victims in his native Kuwait, where 27 were killed in a blast carried out by ISIS last week

He added: 'I was very understanding and I said to them "I know it was a foreign language and my race is a factor but please be fair".

'I think there is a thin line between being safe and going over-the-top and this time I think they went a little over-the-top.'

FILMING AND THE TERRORISM ACT Mr Al-Ansari was arrested under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act, meaning officers 'reasonably suspected he was a terrorist'. His filming, however, may have been considered a suspected breach of Section 58 of the Act. It states: 'A person commits an offence if: - 'He collects or makes a record of information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, or - 'He possesses a document or record containing information of that kind.' Records can include photographs and electronic records. It carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Advertisement

A Sussex Police spokesman said they were called by security staff after they had 'had challenged a 38-year-old London man who was filming on his mobile phone and recording in a foreign language'.

The spokesman added: 'They were concerned about his motives and he was reported to be acting strangely.'

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

He added: He was therefore released without the need to put him through a custody and forensic process.

'However it was not possible at the time to examine his mobile phone, and 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.

'We always work closely with Churchill Square security and the decisions on the day by them and by our officers who attended were made with the overriding aim of keeping the public safe.'