Tommy Robinson says he was stopped at Heathrow Airport on Saturday evening and that officers seized his phones after he returned from Russia via Turkey. The Metropolitan Police confirmed a man in his 40s was stopped at about 17:00 GMT under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019, interviewed, and released. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had earlier posted a video of meeting Elon Musk's father in Moscow. He was previously acquitted in November after refusing to provide phone access following a July 2024 stop.
Tommy Robinson Stopped at Heathrow Under Counter‑Terror Law — Phones Seized, Then Released
[Getty Images]
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson says he was stopped by police at London Heathrow Airport and that officers seized his phones on Saturday evening. Robinson, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, told supporters the stop occurred after he returned to the UK from Russia via Turkey.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed that a man in his 40s was stopped at about 17:00 GMT under the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019.
"The man was interviewed by officers and his communication devices were seized. He was subsequently released."
Robinson had posted a video earlier in the week on X (formerly Twitter) showing him meeting Elon Musk's father in Moscow. The Metropolitan Police statement did not link the stop to that meeting and gave no indication that any charges were being brought.
Background
In November, Robinson — real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon — was found not guilty of a terrorism-related offence after he refused to provide police with access to his phone following a separate stop in July 2024. That earlier incident occurred at the Channel Tunnel terminal in Folkestone while Robinson was driving a friend's silver Bentley to Spain; he said the device contained confidential journalistic material and declined to give the PIN.
The Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019 provides UK border officers with powers to stop and question people arriving into the country and to examine electronic devices where there are lawful grounds to do so. The police have not disclosed further details about the reason for Saturday's stop or the outcome of any examination of seized devices.
No charges related to the Heathrow stop have been announced.
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