27/11/23

Tommy Robinson is charged with breaching an exclusion order after being escorted from march against antisemitism

Tommy Robinson has been charged with breaching an exclusion order after he was escorted from a march against antisemitism.

The Metropolitan Police said that the 40-year-old, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, is accused of failing to comply with a direction to leave an area and will appear in court on January 22.

Robinson was arrested near the Royal Courts of Justice in London, from where the demonstration began on Sunday, after organisers said he would not be welcome at the event.

The English Defence League founder was detained by dozens of officers near the Royal Courts of Justice yesterday, where the rally attended by tens of thousands of people started.

Photos and video from the scene show Robinson with his eyes partially closed after synthetic pepper spray was used on him.

The Metropolitan Police said the substance was used after he 'resisted as officers attempted to put him in handcuffs' having being 'warned repeatedly' it would be sprayed.

Mr. Robinson had claimed he was attending the rally, which was the biggest protest against anti-Semitism in London since 1936, 'as a journalist', but the march's organisers had raised concerns his attendance would 'cause fear for other participants'.

He uploaded a video of himself with partially closed eyes to social media after the confrontation.

Other footage of him arguing with police officers was also posted on his X account, with Robinson claiming to be present as a journalist at the march.

Following his release from custody, he claimed that bail conditions preventing him from entering London or taking part in protests were 'a blatant abuse of my human rights'.

On the day he was seen arguing with officers for around 10 minutes outside Soho coffee shop opposite the Royal Courts of Justice before being led away by police.

Scotland Yard said it arrested Mr. Robinson after he refused to leave the area when asked to by police officers.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'The arrested man resisted as officers attempted to put him in handcuffs. He was warned repeatedly before PAVA spray was used.

'Following its use, officers gained control of him and handcuffs were applied.'

In an earlier statement, the force said organisers had 'been clear about their concerns that the man's attendance, and that of those who were likely to accompany him, would cause fear for other participants.

'The same view has been voiced by others.

'As a result he was spoken to and warned on more than one occasion that his continued presence in the area was likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress to others.

'He was directed to leave the area but refused to do so.'

Police said on Monday: 'A man has now been charged in connection with this incident.

'Stephen Lennon, of Bedfordshire, has been charged with failing to comply with a section 35 direction excluding a person from an area.

'He has been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on January 22.'