Former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson has been arrested on suspicion of assault.
The 37-year-old far-right campaigner, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was detained after police received a report of an assault on a man at Hollywood Retail Park in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, shortly after 8.30pm on Thursday.
He is also being questioned in custody on suspicion of a public order offence, along with a 43-year-old man from the West Midlands area, a 47-year-old man from the North Wales area and a 28-year-old man from the Bedfordshire area.
Footage shared on social media shows Robinson filming himself and then police officers who arrive at an address in the town. In the clip he explains to an officer that he “acted in self defence” after he says that someone spat in his face.
In a statement issued on Friday, Cumbria Police said: “Four men from outside the county were arrested last night following a report of an assault.
“Cumbria Police received a call reporting an assault on a man at Hollywood Retail Park, shortly after 8.30pm.
“Officers responded and arrested four men shortly afterwards in the Douglas Street area of Barrow.
“A 37-year-old man from the Bedfordshire area was arrested on suspicion of assault and a public order offence.
“All remain in police custody this morning.
“There were a number of people in the area at the time and officers are keen to hear from anyone who witnessed what happened or the moments immediately before or after.”
Robinson is known to have made two trips to the area within the last fortnight – where he claims to have been working as a journalist to investigate claims of a “Muslim grooming gang in the town”. Last month Cumbria police chief superintendent Dean Holden said a year-long investigation into “specific allegations of abuse” did not corroborate allegations shared on social media about the existence of such a group.
Following the 12-month investigation, a 19-year-old woman was charged with several counts of perverting the course of justice – however, tensions around the claims have risen in the town in recent weeks, with threats made on social media against a number of Asian takeaways.
Additional reporting by PA
