Police said Tommy Robinson was formally charged after presenting at a police station this afternoon.
The far-right activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been charged under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act for failing to provide his mobile phone pincode and has been bailed to appear in court next month, Kent Police said in a statement. “Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, 41, of no fixed abode, was charged on Friday 25 October with failing to provide a mobile phone pin code under section 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
“The charge relates to an incident in Folkestone on Sunday 28 July after a police officer stopped Mr Yaxley-Lennon under section 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000. Mr Yaxley-Lennon was released on bail and is due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 13 November 2024.” Police also confirmed he was in custody following a previous charge of contempt of court being remanded on Monday. He is due to appear at Woolwich Magistrates’ Court on 28 October.
He told supporters as he arrived at the station where he was accused of “obstructing” an investigation carried out in July under the Terrorism Act 2000. Robinson’s appearance in court came after a High Court judge issued an arrest warrant for the former English Defence League (EDL) leader following Robinson’s failure to appear in court on a contempt of court charge in late July.
The activist left the country the day after leading a protest in central London. He had been released on unconditional bail by Kent police after being arrested under the Terrorism Act at the Folkestone Channel Tunnel. The Act allows police to stop people passing through UK ports to determine whether they are “involved or likely to be involved in the commission, preparation or instigation of terrorist acts”.
He flew back to Britain last weekend and was arrested less than 24 hours before he was due to lead Britain’s biggest far-right demonstration in decades, which is expected to draw thousands, into central London. Metropolitan police are ready to welcome large numbers of demonstrators who are due to march through Whitehall on Saturday under the banner of “Unite the Kingdom”.
Several counter-protests were organised against the march, with people joining in alongside several unions and anti-racism organisations.