The former leader of the far-right English Defence League Tommy Robinson posted a video to his Facebook page this morning claiming he was being arrested for ‘trying to video Muslim paedophiles’.

Filming himself on his phone, Robinson said: ‘It’s 04.32 and the police are at my house, and I’m being arrested for going to a court case in Canterbury and trying to video the Muslim paedophiles.’

Two police officers are then visible in the clip, one of whom tells Robinson that he can’t use his phone.





Robinson’s verified Twitter account said this morning that he was arrested ‘on charges relating to attempted journalism.’

Tommy was arrested at his home at 04:30 this morning on charges relating to attempted journalism outside… https://t.co/3ffc9UMB7y — Tommy Robinson (@TRobinsonNewEra) May 10, 2017





Crown courts are open to the press but any filming and recording of courts and court precincts is illegal under section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1925 and the Contempt of Court Act.

According to Kent Live, Robinson and a cameraman went to Canterbury Crown Court on 8 May during an ongoing rape trial in order to film the defendants.

They were warned by police that they were at risk of breaking the law by filming on the court steps.

Kent Live reported that the defendants were held inside the building after hearing that the far-right activists were outside.

Robinson’s latest venture is working for website Rebel Media, which styles itself as a ‘fearless source of news, opinion, and activism that you won’t find anywhere else.’

Earlier this month, he was forced to defend himself after a run-in with members of Muslim counter-extremism group Quilliam at their offices in London.

Footage posted on Youtube shows Robinson trying to confront Quilliam senior researcher Julia Ebner, who allegedly referred to him at a white supremacist in a newspaper article.