British activist Tommy Robinson has been arrested in Canada during a podcast tour.
Mr. Robinson, a UK right-wing activist most vocal about curbing immigration, was filmed being arrested in Calgary on June 24. In the video uploaded on the X platform, he is seen being handcuffed by law enforcement and told he is being arrested due to an “outstanding arrest warrant.”
In another video filmed by Mr. Robinson in the law enforcement vehicle, he is told that his arrest was ordered by a director with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). While he was released from police custody later that night, his passport was taken from him.
“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,” Mr. Robinson posted on the X platform on June 25.
CBSA spokesperson Rebecca Purdy told The Epoch Times the agency cannot comment specifically on Mr. Robinson’s arrest since “an individual’s border and immigration information is considered private and protected by the Privacy Act.”
“The Agency’s role is to assess the admissibility of persons coming to Canada and pursue investigations against persons in Canada who may be inadmissible,” Ms. Purdy said in providing general information about CBSA’s mandate.
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Mr. Robinson, whose given name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, was set to go on a speaking tour with Rebel News in the cities of Calgary, Edmonton, and Toronto, to speak about subjects such as censorship and government overreach. In an interview with Rebel News founder Ezra Levant following his release, he said he is required to report to authorities every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and notify them of any hotel or address he will be staying at.
The Epoch Times reached out to Mr. Levant for comment but didn’t hear back by press time. Mr. Levant has been involved in the legal proceedings.
In an interview with The Epoch Times, Mr. Robinson criticized how he was treated by Canadian immigration, saying authorities were “heavy handed” and argued his arrest was politically motivated.
Mr. Robinson has been politically active in the UK, including as vice-chairman of the British Freedom Party and co-founding the English Defence League. He has also served a total of four prison sentences between 2005 and 2019, including for entering the United States using a friend’s passport.
