A PROMINENT far-right instigator has been detained under terror laws while attempting to leave the UK.
Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was stopped at Heathrow Airport and had his phones seized under section 3 of the Counter-Terrorism Border Security Act 2019.
He has claimed on social media that many of his possessions, including an iPhone and Samsung Galaxy, were seized by police, and has urged his supporters to donate money to fund his legal defence.
The act gives police officers at ports powers to stop, question, search and detain people suspected of travelling to plan, prepare and carry out hostile acts.
It was not known what the stop of Robinson was in relation to and the Metropolitan police declined to comment when approached by The Guardian.
It comes days after he stirred up hate online in the aftermath of a stabbing attack in Belfast, calling for the organisation of rallies across the UK.
Robinson posted details of planned demonstrations across the UK and Northern Ireland on X/Twitter. Elon Musk shared the post to his 240 million followers.
In Glasgow this turned into a "race riot" in the city centre, with police blockading bridges to protect communities. In Belfast rioters set fire to a public bus and torched several residential buildings, forcing families to flee.
Robinson appeared to celebrate the arson of homes, posting drone footage of one blaze and saying "As protesters disperse, only flames can be seen across Belfast tonight as suspected HMO's burn," in another post where a car can be seen on fire, he said "Belfast is burning with rage tonight."
As protesters disperse, only flames can be seen across Belfast tonight as suspected HMO's burn. pic.twitter.com/VA0ZF1G9H7
— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) June 9, 2026
The former English Defence League leader also sparked far-right riots after the death of Henry Novak, a teenager who died while in police custody in Southampton. In the wake of Novak's death, clashes between rioters and police left 13 officers and a police dog injured.
Robinson previously attempted to drum up funds from his supporters ahead of a major far-right anti-immigration rally in London, known as Unite the Kingdom.
Robinson was previously cleared of a separate terror charge after refusing to give police access to his phone in July 2024, when he was stopped by officers at the Channel tunnel in Folkestone.
Robinson refused to give officers the pin to his phone during the stop, arguing the device contained confidential journalistic material. A district judge concluded he could not be sure the police stop was lawful.
