David Miranda was detained at Heathrow Airport as he prepared to make his way home to Brazil

BRITISH officials gave their U.S. counterparts a "heads up" before detaining the partner of the journalist who first reported secrets leaked by fugitive U.S. intelligence agency contractor Edward Snowden, the White House confirmed this evening.

But American law enforcement officials did not ask British authorities to question journalist Glenn Greenwald's partner, David Miranda, the White House said.

"This is a decision they made on their own," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters at a briefing.

He did not provide information about how far in advance British officials notified the United States that Miranda would be detained.

Reuters