A loophole in border security meant Tommy Robinson could leave the UK despite being deemed ‘wanted’ by police hours earlier.
The far-right activist, 42, allegedly assaulted a man at St Pancras station in London last week – with viral footage showing the apparent victim lying unresponsive on the floor.
Robinson – whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – then caught an early morning flight from Stansted to Tenerife despite being flagged as ‘wanted’ by police nearly five hours earlier.
He was allowed through at the departure gate by Ryanair staff, as the police alert was raised after he booked his flight and checked in online – the point passenger details are typically run past security watch-lists.
UK airline officials are not obliged to check whether a traveller is wanted for suspected criminality immediately before embarkation, The Times first reported.
Their primary job is to examine the passenger’s passport to ensure it is valid.
Footage posted on social media this week appeared to show a man lying motionless on the London station concourse while Robinson paced around him.
Detectives then launched a manhunt for a 42-year-old man from Luton, Bedfordshire, after Robinson boarded a flight out the country.
Tommy Robinson walks past a man who appears to have been knocked unconscious at St Pancras
Footage shows the former EDL leader – whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – pacing back and forth beside the unresponsive man
Robinson posted a video to his X account at 4.09pm on Monday, claiming he was in London preparing for what he called ‘the biggest free speech event the world has ever seen’
The 64-year-old victim – whose head appeared to be covered in the video – was taken to a major trauma centre with ‘serious injuries’ after the ordeal.
He was discharged from hospital on Wednesday, British Transport Police confirmed.
During the viral footage, Robison could be heard saying ‘he come at me’ as he walked down a flight of stairs.
As stunned bystanders watched on, one Good Samaritan could be heard shouting: ‘Can we get some help over here!’
But Robinson, visibly agitated, threw his arms in the air before turning and walking away down a staircase, repeatedly protesting his innocence. ‘He f***ing came at me, bruv,’ he yelled. ‘He come at me bruv, you saw that.’
The English Defence League founder had earlier posted footage of himself handing out flyers inside the station for an upcoming ‘free speech’ protest on September 13.
