Tommy Robinson dragged away in handcuffs after suspected immigration offence
Tommy Robinson has been arrested in Canada after a suspected immigration offence after speaking at an event.
The right-wing founder of the English Defence League was pictured being taken away in handcuffs by plain clothes officers in Calgary in the province of Alberta.
Robinson was held on Monday before being released.
He has been ordered to stay in the country and hand in his passport, Robinson said.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, posted on X that he has been ‘prevented from leaving the city.’
He said: ‘None of this makes sense, I’m now detained in Calgary, prevented from leaving the city, these conditions stop me from continuing my tour of Canada and meeting with guests for podcasts.
‘I’m not even allowed to leave to travel home.’
The 41-year-old was due to speak in three Canadian cities, booked by an outlet called Rebel News, a far-right political and social commentary website stoking the culture wars.
One of the founder of Rebel News, Ezra Levant, asked on X (formerly Twitter) for donations to cover Robinson’s legal fees.
In video footage taken by Rebel News, Robinson can be heard saying ‘f*** Justin Trudeau’ as he his seated at the back of the police car after being told his arrest was under an ‘outstanding arrest warrant.’
In a separate video, which is thought to be recorded in secret by Robinson in the cop car, he appears to be arguing with the police officers, Yahoo! News reports.
He is told his arrest was ordered by the director of the Canada Border Services Agency.
Robinson tells the officers: ‘Ain’t it mad how tough you get with immigration on the wrong people.
‘It’s mental innit. You act like absolute spineless cowards as a country letting every bloody goddamn f****** Abdul or whoever into your country – you don’t know nothing about them, their criminal histories, or anything, or their ideologies, and then you turn up mob-handed for me for giving a talk at a seminar.’
One of the officers responds by saying it is ‘rather ironic’ Robinson talks about criminal history.
Robinson then denies any suggestion he lied about not having criminal convictions in his application, adding that someone else filled the application on his behalf.
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