Tommy Robinson detained at Heathrow under counter-terrorism laws
Police stop comes after far-right activist rose to further prominence on social media amid racial tensions in Britain
TL;DR
- Tommy Robinson was detained at Heathrow Airport under section 3 of the Counter-Terrorism Border Security Act 2019.
- His phones, an iPhone and Samsung Galaxy, were seized by police.
- Robinson's spokesperson described the detention as an attack on free speech and investigative journalism.
- The 2019 act empowers police to stop, question, search, and detain individuals suspected of planning or carrying out hostile acts.
- Robinson had recently gained prominence amid racial tensions in Britain, spearheading protests and amplifying videos of violent incidents.
- He was previously cleared of a terror charge after refusing to grant police access to his phone in July 2024.