- Anti-Islam Activist Says He Was Held Under Counter-Terrorism Law
LONDON: British anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson said he was detained at London’s Heathrow Airport on Saturday and that police seized his mobile phone after questioning him under the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, said he was held for around three hours after returning to Britain. In a post on X, he claimed his phone had been taken by police and appealed for support for his legal defense fund.
“My phone has been seized by the police,” Robinson wrote, calling on supporters to assist with his legal costs.
Detention Follows Posts About Northern Ireland Violence
The detention came after Robinson was highly active online during a period of unrest in Northern Ireland. He had repeatedly posted about riots in Belfast following a viral video showing the violent stabbing of a man who later lost an eye.
A Sudanese national has been charged with attempted murder in connection with the attack, while police have said the incident is not being investigated as terrorism.
Following the incident, unrest spread across parts of Belfast, with rioters targeting homes and businesses linked to ethnic minorities and foreign residents. Northern Ireland’s minister described the violence as racist thuggery.
Police Confirm Airport Stop and Release
A police spokesperson confirmed that officers stopped a man in his 40s at Heathrow Airport after he arrived in Britain from Russia via Türkiye.
The spokesperson said the individual was interviewed, communication devices were seized, and he was later released.
The detention has drawn renewed attention to debates in Britain over free speech, online activism, immigration concerns, and the limits of police powers under counter-terrorism legislation.
BY: The Times Union
