Tommy Robinson remanded in custody ahead of court date
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been arrested in anticipation of a significant rally planned by his supporters in London this weekend.
Kent Police announced that a 41-year-old man was taken into custody following an order from the High Court. He is scheduled to appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday to face accusations of contempt of court.
The police reported that Robinson, whose actual name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been accused of not giving his phone's PIN to officers who stopped and questioned him at the Folkestone border in July.
He was released on bail regarding that accusation and is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 13th.
The supposed violation of the Terrorism Act doesn’t imply that he was intending to carry out an attack. It only pertains to the authorities' ability to inspect phones at ports during their investigations.
Yaxley-Lennon may be facing prison time during the hearing on Monday regarding charges of contempt of court.
He is accused of violating a court order that prohibited him from making false statements about a Syrian refugee, which a judge had already determined to be defamatory.
Soon after he arrived at the Folkestone police station on Friday afternoon, the official Tommy Robinson X account announced that he had been arrested.
Yaxley-Lennon's arrest took place just under a day before a significant police operation aimed at managing what could be thousands of his followers.
For several weeks, while posting from overseas, he had been pushing them to travel to London on Saturday. He argued that the government was attempting to suppress him for his outspoken views on how immigrants affect the UK.
Metropolitan Police leaders have organized a major operation to manage the protest and ensure it remains separate from a counter-protest.
The Metropolitan Police and British Transport Police will receive assistance from officers from various police forces throughout the country. The Met has indicated that there will be a substantial number of officers on duty to maintain a safe separation between the two groups.
The exact number of attendees remains uncertain, but a comparable event in London last July attracted thousands of supporters of Robinson at Trafalgar Square.
The activist, who started the now-disbanded English Defence League, has faced criticism for allegedly inciting unrest during the riots that took place over the summer.
Yaxley-Lennon has not faced any accusations in connection with the incidents.
