Far-right activist Tommy Robinson could be arrested today ahead of huge march

Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is hoping to lead a large-scale far-right protest in central London tomorrow. He has told supporters: 'Even if they detain me, we fight, we go before court Saturday morning and we argue for bail'

Tommy Robinson could be arrested later today, less than 24 hours before he plans to lead what is expected to be Britain's biggest far-right demo in decades.

The activist is set to attend Folkestone Police Station at 3pm over accusations of "frustrating" a stop-and-search made under the Terrorism Act 2000 in July. It is understood he could also be arrested on a separate matter if a judge makes a ruling, also expected today, in connection to separate allegations related to breaches of a previous court order not to repeat defamatory lies about a Syrian refugee.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is accused of breaching a High Court order issued in 2021 barring him from repeating libellous allegations against the refugee, who successfully sued him. Robinson's lawyers have made an application in court to set an arrest warrant aside, ahead of a two-day court hearing, which is set to go ahead in London from Monday and could lead to him being jailed for four years.

Speaking at a press event on Friday morning, Nick Lowles, CEO of Hope Not Hate, said: "There is a strong possibility that he will get arrested today. I think he feels that as well.

"It's today or not. I can't see him being arrested over the weekend, partly because there's always far fewer staff to do all that."

Speaking about the contempt of court allegations, the anti-fascist campaigner added: "[His lawyers] are trying to set the arrest warrant aside to ensure he can turn up at the demonstration on Saturday. The likelihood is unless he can set the arrest warrant aside, he will be picked up today, held over the weekend, and then brought to court from custody on Monday morning."

Robinson, 41, spoke out on social media on Thursday after holding a meeting lasting several hours with his legal team, who he says advised him to show remorse over the contempt of court allegations. In a video, which he filmed himself before uploading to his X account, he told his followers: "It goes totally against my principles and values to do that.

"Am I guilty of sharing that information with you? Yes, I am. Am I guilty of repeating those allegations in interviews? Yes, I am. Am I sorry for that? No, I'm not.

"I face 100% certain imprisonment on multiple charges. I could go in, looking at this case, and say 'no, I didn't do that' and try and argue certain aspects... I don't want to."

Syrian teenager Jamal Hijazi won £100,000 in damages in July 2021 following a major defamation battle after it was ruled Robinson spread false allegations about him. A judge ordered Robinson, who was the founder of the English Defence League, not to repeat the claims, but it is alleged he included them in a film, first distributed online last year.

In June, Robinson was ordered to the High Court to answer the allegation that he had ignored the judge’s order. Two days before that scheduled hearing in July, he repeated the claims to thousands of supporters at a large protest, attended by between 20,000 to 30,000 people, in Trafalgar Square.

Hours after the rally, he travelled to the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone, where police officers stopped him under counter-terrorism stop-and-search powers. When he allegedly refused to co-operate, he was arrested before later being released on bail and leaving the country.

Paul Golding, the leader of far-right group Britain First, was the first person found guilty of an offence under the same act, refusing to give police access to his mobile phone on his return from a political trip to Russia in May 2020. He was subsequently sentenced to a conditional discharge for nine months and ordered to pay a £21 victim surcharge and £750 in costs.

Robinson has been accused of inflaming tensions during subsequent riots in July and August, which critics say were fuelled by conspiracy theories it is alleged were promoted on the Tommy Robinson social media channels.

He finally returned to Britain on Sunday night when he flew into Luton Airport after telling supporters he expected to be arrested on arrival at the border on an arrest warrant related to the contempt case, which he believed had been issued as a result of him not attending court two days after he left the UK in July. However, it is now understood the warrant had not yet been triggered by a judge.

The film, titled Silenced, was aired at the rally in Trafalgar Square on July 27. It is one of six alleged breaches of the injunction, including some he has allegedly made during interviews.

Robinson is planning to lead a large-scale demonstration, focused on alleged injustice about the summer riots, in central London on Saturday, which it is estimated could be attended by up to 40,000 people. Families of some of those jailed following the riots are also expected to attend and may be introduced on stage.

A number of speakers are expected to give speeches and it is expected a new film will be screened accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of "two-tier policing". Football hooligan groups, with far-right affiliations, are understood to be planning to gather in pubs from as early as 9am and counter-protesters are also planning to hold their own demo, raising fears of possible violence between the two groups.

Speaking on his social media account about the possibility he will be taken into custody later today, Robinson said: "Even if they detain me, we fight, we go before court Saturday morning and we argue for bail." He added: "Saturday is not off. No matter what. Everything is arranged and in place even if I’m not there."