Far-right figure remanded in UK ahead of planned London demonstration

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - Britain's staunch Islamophobic and xenophobic figure Tommy Robinson has been taken into custody ahead of a planned demonstration by his supporters in London this weekend.

Kent Police said Friday that a 41-year-old man had been arrested at the direction of the High Court and would appear at Woolwich Crown Court in London on Monday in connection with contempt of court allegations.

It added that Robinson whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon has also been charged with allegedly refusing to provide his phone’s PIN to officers who had stopped and questioned him at the border in Folkestone in July.

He was granted bail over that allegation and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Nov. 13, BBC reported.

Yaxley-Lennon is facing a possible jail sentence over contempt of court charges as it is alleged he breached an injunction not to repeat lies about a Syrian refugee which had been previously ruled by a judge to be defamatory.

Tommy Robinson X account confirmed that he had been taken into custody, shortly after he entered Folkestone police station on Friday afternoon.

Sky News reported that earlier today he spoke to supporters outside the police station, and said: "I'll see what happens mate, I don't expect to come back out there."

It comes less than 24 hours before a major policing operation to contain potentially thousands of his supporters as Robinson had been calling on his supporters to join the upcoming dar-right rally on Saturday.

Robinson was also accused by many for being one of the main figures behind the rising tension during violent disorder across the UK in summer.

A High Court judge issued a warrant for the former English Defence League (EDL) leader's arrest after he failed to appear for a contempt of court hearing at the end of July.