A National Union of Journalists meeting in London this week will urgently discuss the PSNI's "outrageous behaviour" in seizing a reporter's phone in relation to a Real IRA claim of responsibility for attacks in Derry.

The NUJ said it marked a "dramatic escalation of the police's assault on press freedom and the right to journalistic confidentiality".

NUJ national executive member, Eamonn McCann said: "In the Sunday Tribune's source protection case, the police went to court seeking a production order, and lost.

"This time they just produced a warrant and took the phone. They seem to think they're automatically entitled to any information journalists have. It's essential that journalists now stand up for their profession and principles."

The phone of freelance journalist Eamonn MacDermott, who had received a claim of responsibility for pipe bomb attacks, was taken by police who produced a warrant.

Leading Derry republican Gary Donnelly was then charged under the terrorism act. It was alleged the claim of responsibility was made by Donnelly from his mobile phone.