Tommy Robinson ‘arrested under anti-terror laws’

Tommy Robinson has been arrested under anti-terror laws, according to his verified account on Twitter.

It follows a complaint over a film which was shown to the crowd at a march in central London on Saturday led by Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon.

A post on Twitter said: “We can confirm that Tommy Robinson has been detained by police using powers afforded to them under the Terrorism Act 2000.

“That’s right, you read that correctly, Tommy is being held by police using counter-terrorism legislation. We will update you as and when we can.”

Around 100 people have gathered outside Downing Street in a protest over Robinson’s alleged detention.

Waving Union Jacks and St George’s flags, the crowd erupted into chants, singing “Oh Tommy Robinson, Tommy Tommy Tommy Tommy Robinson” and “Free Tommy Robinson”.

Mystery surrounds where Robinson is being held, with the Met Police forced to deny any involvement amid speculation online.

The protest group then walked a short 300m to New Scotland Yard, where they are demanding the release of Robinson and the resignation of Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary.

Flanked by around 20 officers, one man holding a small wireless microphone told the crowd: “This is the beginning of the fight for freedom for Tommy Robinson”.

Tourists crowded around filming the men on their phones.

Protesters shouted out 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.

Several said they did not know where Robinson was arrested.

Veteran Richard Inman, who claimed to be “with Tommy” for around 7 years, claimed Robinson was arrested by Kent Police at a port as he planned to go away “for a couple of days”.

“We don’t know where he is, we don’t know what’s going on,” he added.

Kent Police would not confirm if they had arrested Robinson. It is understood the force does not comment on individuals under investigation unless they have been charged.

The Metropolitan Police said there was “no Met involvement” in reference to the post about Robinson’s arrest.

On Saturday, the far-Right activist played a “libellous” film to thousands of protesters gathered in Trafalgar Square.

Robinson broadcast a one-hour 45-minute “documentary” about a legal battle between himself and a Syrian schoolboy on large screens at a march in central London.

He is already due before the High Court on Monday accused of contempt for making the “documentary”, called Silenced, as well as for breaching an injunction against him banning him from repeating claims made in the film.

In 2021, he was ordered to pay Jamal Hijazi £100,000 for allegations he made about the Syrian refugee after a video of him being attacked at his Huddersfield school went viral.

The false claims, including that Mr Hijazi had been attacking girls in his school, were repeated in the documentary.

In response to a complaint about the film on Twitter 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.”

Thousands of flag-waving demonstrators turned out for Saturday’s march, where they were heard chanting “We want our country back” and singing Rule, Britannia!

As crowds watched the film, Robinson posted on Twitter: “I’ll be jailed for two years for showing the inconceivable truth.”

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