Anti-Islam figure Tommy Robinson detained at Heathrow Airport

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."

Police confirm airport stop

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.

Unrest in Northern Ireland

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.

Long-standing far-right figure

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.

Tags

News Tommy Robinson UK Northern Ireland anti-immigration Far Right Heathrow islam