Tommy Robinson detained by police at Heathrow airport under counter-terrorism laws

Tommy Robinson said he was held by police at London Heathrow Airport yesterday under counter-terrorism legislation.

The 43-year-old, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had his iPhone and Samsung Galaxy devices confiscated under Section 3 of the Counter-Terrorism Border Security Act 2019, according to The Guardian.

Mr Robinson took to social media following the incident, stating he had been detained for close to three hours and appealing to supporters for donations towards his legal costs.

The legislation permits officers stationed at ports to stop, search, question and hold individuals they suspect may be travelling with the intention of planning or executing hostile activities.

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The detention came after a week during which Mr Robinson's profile on social media platforms grew significantly.

A spokesman for Mr Robinson responded to the detention with a post on X, stating: "They likely want to see who he is talking to, and maybe find out who his sources are, sources who will expose politicians for their part in the rape of a generation of British girls. This is an attack on free speech, this is an attack on investigative journalism, nothing more, nothing less."

The Metropolitan Police declined to provide any details when asked about the nature of the stop.

Mr Robinson has gained increased visibility in recent weeks amid heightened tensions across Britain, particularly following the release of Hampshire police body-worn camera footage capturing the death of 18-year-old Henry Nowak in police custody in Southampton.

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The former English Defence League leader organised demonstrations in the Hampshire city, where violent confrontations between protesters and police resulted in injuries to 13 officers and a police dog.

Earlier in the week, Mr Robinson shared footage of last Monday's Belfast attack, which was allegedly committed by a Sudanese asylum seeker who has been charged with attempted murder in the Northern Irish capital.

SpaceX and Tesla owner Elon Musk subsequently reposted Mr Robinson's announcement of planned protests to his 240 million X followers.

Mr Robinson faced a similar stop in July 2024 at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone, Kent, where he was acquitted of a terror charge after refusing to unlock his phone, claiming it held confidential journalistic material.

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