Tommy Robinson has been released on bail after being arrested in Kent under ‘anti-terror laws’, a day after organising a mass demonstration in London.
The far-right activist was detained by police at the Channel tunnel in Folkestone, prompting flag-waving protesters to storm Downing Street yesterday demanding his release.
Chants of ‘release Tommy now’ and ‘we want Tommy out’ could be heard from protesters, as tourists filmed the men on their phones.
One man carried a large Union flag and another an England flag outside the gates as they took to the streets to voice their anger.
Kent Police said that on Sunday night that a man, 41, had been detained at the Channel tunnel in Folkestone under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act, The Guardian reported.
This legislation allows an examining officer to stop and question people entering and leaving the UK through ports, airports, international rail stations and the border area.
When necessary, they may also detain and search individuals.
The newspaper said Robinson was arrested ‘for frustration of schedule 7 examination’ and was later released on bail as enquiries continue.
A post on Tommy Robinson’s social media account claimed he has been arrested. Pictured: Tommy Robinson at a rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday
A post on Tommy Robinson’s X account claimed the former English Defence League leader had been detained under anti-terrorism laws
Tommy Robinson supporters gather outside Downing Street waving England and Union Jack flags
Robinson’s verified social media accounts yesterday claimed that the English Defence League (EDL) founder was to be ‘charged with terror offences’.
The Metropolitan Police said it did not recognise claims he had been detained and insisted there was ‘no Met involvement’.
Bedfordshire Police, who have had dealings with him in the past and cover the area where he is from, also denied any involvement.
News of the arrest lead to protests outside Downing Street. A crowd of around 70 people gathered outside the gates of No 10 last night.
Protesters were overheard shouting about conspiracy theories including that the country is being controlled by a ‘deep state’. One man held a large England flag on a pole, which read ‘Jesus is our God’.
Four protesters held a several-metre long printed banner that had a photo of Robinson with tape over his mouth and ‘#freetommy’ beneath.
Dozens of protesters crowded around and loudly chanted ‘Tommy Robinson’ at a young woman who said his film of a Syrian schoolboy was libelous.
The woman appeared to be filming on a phone as she made the comments and was escorted away by police.
Protesters outside Downing Street chanting ‘release Tommy now’ and ‘we want Tommy out’ yesterday
Protesters outside Downing Street in London yesterday protesting against the reported arrest of Tommy Robinson
His detention follows a complaint over a film which was allegedly shown to the crowd at a march in central London on Saturday
As she walked away, the crowd turned and pointed at her, repeatedly shouting ‘oh Tommy Robinson’, with one apparently teenage boy shouting ‘f*** Palestine’.
Two men were seen wearing ‘make America great again’ hats.
One man held up a T-shirt printed with a black-and-white photograph of Robinson with his mouth taped over and the text ‘#freetommy’.
A man who appears to have organised the protest was warned by police that protesters were blocking the highway and access to Downing Street, and risked being removed.
An officer told him ‘we want to work with you’ to allow the protest.
Protesters moved from outside Downing Street to Scotland Yard, the Met Police HQ, at 5pm.
One of the apparent organisers compared the treatment of Robinson to the attempted assassination of former US president Donald Trump.
He shouted from a bench beside the Scotland Yard sign: ‘Today they are attempting to assassinate Tommy Robinson and we must stop them.’
Ahead of the protest, the Met Police said: ‘Met officers are not involved in the alleged arrest of Tommy Robinson and we are not aware of any links with the demonstration held yesterday in London.
‘This matter involves another force and we hope that further information will be released soon.
‘We are aware of posts online encouraging people to protest in London in relation to this issue. Any such protest must be lawful. We will deploy officers as required to prevent serious disruption or disorder and to deal with any incidents.’
It came 24 hours after Robinson, real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, took part in a massive rally at Trafalgar Square which saw thousands of his supporters flood the streets of London.
The Metropolitan Police insisted that it played no role in the arrest of Tommy Robinson
A St George’s flag with the words ‘stop the boats’ and ‘do it for our kids future’ was waved aloft in Trafalgar Square on Saturday
People attending the event organised by Tommy Robinson gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice on Saturday morning
Robinson was warned he could face prison after screening a banned film to thousands of his supporters at the event.
The crowd was shown a documentary called Silenced – about a Syrian refugee Jamal Hijazi being assaulted by another pupil in the playground at Almondbury Community School in Huddersfield – despite a judge previously calling it contempt of court.
A complaint was later made over a film which was allegedly shown to the crowd in breach of a High Court order, with police saying officers were making further inquiries.
Mr Hijazi successfully sued Robinson in 2021 for libel after false claims were made about him, including that the then-teenager had attacked girls in his school. Robinson was ordered to pay him £100,000 in damages plus costs.
After the screening on Saturday Robinson challenged the authorities to ‘take him to court’.
Posting on his X account, he wrote: ‘I’ll be jailed for two years for showing the inconceivable truth.’
Supporters of Tommy Robinson walk down The Strand towards Trafalgar Square on Saturday
A steward wearing an orange high-vis jacket with a picture of Tommy Robinson with his mouth covered in gaffer tape stands in the street during Saturday’s march
He was already due before the High Court on Tuesday accused of contempt for making the film.
Robinson also on Saturday afternoon posted a one hour 45 minute film on X, in which he said he had previously avoided publishing the video because he was ‘scared’.
In response to a complaint about the film on X on Saturday evening, the Met said: ‘We did not know what films would be shown during the event. Organisers of protests are not required to share those details in advance. There is no power for us to compel them to do so.
‘Officers on duty for the event couldn’t reasonably have been aware of civil proceedings ongoing in relation to a particular film, but having now been made aware we’re making further inquiries to determine what action we need to take.’
On Saturday night the force revealed that nine people had been arrested in relation to the event, which saw hundreds of counter-demonstrators flood the streets at the same time.
Among those detained were two men taken into custody after an anti-racism protester was attacked as the counter-rally, organised by Stand Up To Racism, marched towards Whitehall.
Thousands of people gathered in Trafalgar Square waving British flags for the rally on Saturday
British and English flags flew in the air as people at Trafalgar Square listened to a speech by Tommy Robinson
The victim received a head injury was taken to hospital after the incident in Victoria Embankment Gardens.
Police saying the pair – who are believed to have been part of the Tommy Robinson protest – had been taken into custody on suspicion of committing grievous bodily harm (GBH).
Four people were arrested outside a pub in Whitehall on suspicion of assault on emergency workers. Four Met officers were assaulted.
One man was also held on suspicion of criminal damage and a racially aggravated public order offence after allegedly snapping a Palestinian flag and making a racially abusive remark, while another was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker after a police officer was kicked, the force said.
The police had already used powers under the Public Order Act to try to keep the opposing groups apart amid fears of serious disruption.
