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

Tommy Robinson, the far-right leader, has been charged under the Terrorism Act and is currently in custody ahead of a planned march by his supporters. Authorities are expressing concerns about potential violence reminiscent of the unrest that followed his imprisonment in 2018.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, voluntarily surrendered at the Folkestone police station on Friday afternoon. He was charged with failing to provide the pin for his mobile phone, as required under schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act. While he has been granted bail and is set to appear in court next month, he remains in custody due to a high court directive, according to Kent police.

In July, Robinson allegedly refused to allow police access to his mobile phone when he was stopped at the Channel Tunnel under the Terrorism Act, leading to the conditions of his bail requiring him to return to the Folkestone station.

On the morning of October 25, Robinson spoke to the media outside the police station. His supporters, now managing his Twitter account, informed his one million followers that he would remain in custody until his court appearance on Monday, where he faces separate contempt of court charges related to defamatory statements he made about a Syrian refugee.

The Metropolitan Police anticipate a “busy day” on Saturday as Robinson’s supporters are scheduled to march from Victoria to Whitehall under the slogan “Uniting the Kingdom.” In response, a Stand Up to Racism counter-protest is also set to take place. Furthermore, the United Families and Friends Campaign is organizing a protest in Trafalgar Square against the recent acquittal of the firearms officer involved in the death of Chris Kaba.

Hope Not Hate, an anti-fascist campaign group, has warned that Saturday’s far-right demonstration might evolve into a rally demanding Robinson’s release. There are concerns about a repeat of violence similar to that seen in June 2018, when clashes with Robinson’s supporters resulted in injuries to five police officers.

Joe Mulhall, the director of research at Hope Not Hate, commented in a briefing prior to Robinson’s charges being confirmed, “The last time he was imprisoned mobilized the Free Tommy movement, leading to some of the largest protests we’ve seen outside parliament in years. This time, it could be even angrier.”

Before arriving at the police station, Robinson responded to a journalist on Twitter regarding his perceived role as a free speech martyr, labeling the journalist as “fake news” and asserting, “Write whatever you want; no one cares anymore. We are the media.”

Expectations are that Saturday’s protest could be even larger than the July gathering, which saw approximately 30,000 people rally against immigration policies. Nick Lowles, chief executive of Hope Not Hate, noted, “This demonstration is aimed squarely at the prime minister and the police, reflecting a sense of injustice related to recent events. There’s chatter in certain circles indicating large numbers will attend, which raises concerns about potential violence.”

The Metropolitan Police have announced a “significant policing presence” in central London on Saturday to manage the competing demonstrations, enforcing conditions under the Public Order Act regarding timing and location to mitigate disruptions.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Rachel Williams, who is overseeing the operation, stated, “We are well equipped for what is expected to be a busy day in central London. Our role is to ensure that everyone can safely express their right to protest while minimizing disruption to the public.” She added, “Our primary focus is preventing conflicts that may arise when groups with opposing views gather.”