Police pepper-sprayed English Defence League founder, Tommy Robinson, during an arrest at an anti-Semitism march in London, The Independent reported.
Robinson was detained by dozens of officers outside the Royal Courts of Justice from where the demonstration began on Sunday, after march organisers claimed he would not be welcome.
The 40-year-old man, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, posted a video of his half-closed eyes on social media after police used the synthetic pepper spray. He was still in police custody on Sunday night. A Metropolitan Police spokesman reported:
“The arrested man resisted as officers attempted to put him in handcuffs. He was warned repeatedly before PAVA spray was used. Following its use, officers gained control of him and handcuffs were applied.”
An earlier statement from the security services read that the organisers had “been clear about their concerns that the man’s attendance, and that of those who were likely to accompany him, would cause fear for other participants.”
“The same view has been voiced by others. As a result, he was spoken to and warned on more than one occasion that his continued presence in the area was likely to cause harassment, alarm and distress to others. He was directed to leave the area but refused to do so.”
