British anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson said he was detained by police at Heathrow Airport on Saturday, 13 June and had his mobile phone seized, days after posting extensively online about racist and anti-immigrant unrest in Northern Ireland.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, said he was held for around three hours after arriving in Britain from Russia via Türkiye.
In a post on X, he said he had been stopped under the Counter-Terrorism and Border Security Act.
"My phone has been seized by the police," Robinson wrote. "Please help kick off my legal fund for defence."
Without naming Robinson, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed that officers had stopped a man in his 40s at Heathrow Airport on Saturday.
"The man was interviewed by officers and his communication devices were seized. He was subsequently released," the spokesperson said.
Police did not provide further details about the reason for the stop.
The detention came after a week of disorder in Belfast and other parts of Northern Ireland.
The unrest followed the circulation of a video showing a violent attack in which a man lost an eye. A Sudanese man has since been charged with attempted murder. Police have said they are not treating the incident as terrorism.
In the days that followed, groups of rioters targeted homes and businesses linked to ethnic minority communities and foreign residents.
The British government condemned the violence, with Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn describing the scenes as "racist thuggery".
Several local politicians accused far-right figures and online agitators of helping to spread or encourage the disorder through social media posts.
Robinson is one of Britain's most prominent far-right activists and has built a large online following through campaigns focused on immigration and Islam.
He has repeatedly attracted controversy over his public statements and activism and has faced a number of legal challenges over the years.
His detention at Heathrow is likely to attract further attention given his high profile and his recent comments about the violence in Northern Ireland.
It remains unclear whether any further action will be taken following the seizure of his phone and other communication devices.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last m...
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" swee...
Russia’s fuel shortages are spreading into Central Asia, exposing the region’s heavy reliance on Russian petrol and diesel as governments race to ...
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" sweeping through stadiums, city streets and social media.
AnewZ's Daybreak on 10 July covered mounting tensions in the Middle East, political developments in the UK, and major stories from the South Caucasus and Central Asia, alongside key international news.
Ukraine is facing one of the most difficult moments of the war, as a convergence of corruption scandals, political turbulence, financial uncertainty and intensifying Russian offensives places unprecedented strain on the country’s ability to defend itself.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
The Welsh rock singer Bonnie Tyler, best known for the global hit "Total Eclipse of the Heart," has died aged 75 in Portugal.
China's technology sector is producing billion-dollar startups at its fastest pace in nearly five years, with artificial intelligence and robotics driving a new wave of investment that is reshaping the country's innovation economy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged China and North Korea to strengthen cooperation and maintain "strategic resolve" amid what he described as growing global instability. He made the remarks during talks with North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song in Beijing on Friday.
British police have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a former government minister whose death was announced on Friday.
Andy Burnham is on the brink of becoming Labour leader and prime minister after securing the overwhelming backing of Labour MPs in the first round of leadership nominations.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment