London: Tommy Robinson has been arrested a day after organising a major demonstration in central London. The news was confirmed through a post on his X account, stating he was detained under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Thousands of people participated in the event on Saturday, with a significant counter-protest also taking place. The Metropolitan Police acknowledged the arrest in a tweet, indicating another force was involved and further information would be provided soon. They clarified there was no known connection between the arrest and the London demonstration.
Anti-extremism group Hope Not Hate suggested Robinson could face jail for allegedly screening a documentary against high court orders during the protest. The film, “Silenced,” repeats false claims about a Syrian refugee that led to Robinson losing a libel case in 2021. Robinson is set to appear in court on Monday for contempt of court related to the documentary.
Supporters of Robinson gathered outside Downing Street on Sunday afternoon for an impromptu protest following news of his arrest. The Metropolitan Police stated they were aware of calls for protests and emphasized that any such activities must remain lawful. They deployed officers to prevent serious disruption or disorder.
Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe tweeted, questioning the proportionality of the police action and calling for more details. Ahead of Saturday’s protests, the Met deployed about 1,000 officers to maintain order and separate the groups of protesters. The day saw at least eight arrests and several assaults on emergency workers.
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