British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was arrested in Calgary, Canada on Monday on suspicion of an immigration offence. Robinson, 41, had traveled to Canada for a podcast tour organized by Rebel News and was booked to speak in three cities.
Footage posted online shows Robinson being handcuffed and placed into the back of a waiting car by plainclothes police officers. The officers informed him that he was being detained under an outstanding immigration warrant. Robinson commented on X, formerly known as Twitter, stating that he is now detained in Calgary and is barred from leaving the city, which has disrupted his tour and his plans to meet with podcast guests.
Following his arrest, Robinson was ordered to surrender his passport and remain in Canada. He expressed his frustration on social media, noting that he is not allowed to travel home. Rebel News founder, Ezra Levant, who had invited Robinson for the speech and podcast tour, criticized the arrest and made calls for donations to cover Robinson's legal fees.
Robinson, who has a history of legal issues, previously pleaded guilty to using a friend’s passport to travel to the U.S. in 2012 and served a 10-month prison sentence. He founded the English Defence League (EDL) in 2009 and has been a prominent figure in the British far-right.