Tommy Robinson charged under Terrorism Act ahead of far-right march in London

Far-right figure Tommy Robinson has been arrested under the Terrorism Act and is currently in custody ahead of a scheduled rally for his supporters. There are concerns that violence could resurface, similar to the unrest that occurred during his imprisonment in 2018.

Robinson, known by his real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, turned himself in to the police at the Folkestone station on Friday afternoon. He faces charges for not providing the PIN for his mobile phone as required under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act. According to Kent police, he has been released on bail and is scheduled to appear in court next month, but he was also taken into custody based on a ruling from the high court.

In July, Robinson reportedly denied the police access to his mobile phone when he was detained under the Terrorism Act at the Channel tunnel. He had been granted bail on the condition that he return to the Folkestone police station.

He is scheduled to be in Woolwich Crown Court on Monday to face different charges of contempt of court for making false claims about a Syrian refugee. Supporters of Robinson, who currently manage his X account, informed his 1 million followers that he is being kept in custody until his court date on Monday.

The Metropolitan Police have announced that they anticipate a “hectic day” on Saturday, as supporters of Robinson are set to march from Victoria to Whitehall with the theme “Uniting the Kingdom.” At the same time, a counter-protest by Stand Up to Racism is also scheduled. Additionally, the United Friends and Families Campaign will be holding a demonstration in Trafalgar Square in response to this week's acquittal of the firearms officer involved in the shooting of Chris Kaba.

The anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate has forecast that the upcoming far-right rally on Saturday will turn into a protest calling for Robinson's release. They are also concerned that it could resemble the events of June 2018, when five police officers were hurt in confrontations with Robinson's backers.

During a press conference before Robinson's charges were officially announced, Joe Mulhall, the director of research, remarked, "If we reflect on 2018 when he was jailed before, it really energized the Free Tommy movement. We witnessed some of the biggest protests outside parliament in years, filled with a lot of anger and confrontation. There were instances of people throwing bottles at Downing Street and similar places. I believe Lennon expects this kind of reaction to occur once more. His narrative is that he’s a martyr fighting for free speech."

Before reaching the Folkestone police station in a black Nissan Elgrand, Robinson was questioned on X by a journalist regarding his assertion that he anticipated being seen as a martyr for free speech. In reply, Robinson shared a screenshot of the questions and labeled the journalist as a “fake news wanker.” He also commented, “You can write whatever you like; nobody cares anymore. We are the media.”

Hope Not Hate predicted that the upcoming demonstration would draw a bigger crowd than the one organized by Robinson's supporters in July, which saw around 30,000 participants protesting against immigration.

Nick Lowles, the CEO, mentioned, “I believe the atmosphere will likely be much more hostile, whether Lennon is present or not. This particular event is primarily directed at the prime minister, the police, and the prevailing feelings of injustice regarding the riots. From what I gather, the police are quite worried about maintaining public order.”

“According to conversations in the football hooligan WhatsApp groups, it's expected that they'll be showing up in large groups. Considering that many attendees are inclined towards violence or chaos, it's easy to see why the police are concerned.”

The Metropolitan Police announced that there will be a strong police presence in central London this Saturday to keep the two opposing protests separated. They have also set specific rules under the Public Order Act regarding the times and places of these protests to avoid any major disruptions or chaos.

Rachel Williams, the deputy assistant commissioner overseeing the operation, stated, “We are ready for what is expected to be a hectic day in central London.”

"Our responsibility is to make sure that everyone participating in the different events can do so safely and that they can express their right to protest legally. We will be equipped with ample resources to handle any incidents, take swift action against any offenses, and minimize any disturbances for other members of the public and local businesses."

"We understand that when people with different opinions meet, it can result in disagreements and chaos. One of our main responsibilities is to prevent that from occurring."