The Met Police confirmed a man in his 50s had been arrested and detained.
FATHER TED WRITER Graham Linehan has claimed he was arrested at Heathrow Airport over three posts on X about trans people.
In a post on his blog, Linehan, 57, said five armed police officers arrested him and put him in a cell after he disembarked a flight from Arizona on Monday.
The comedy writer, who said he is now out on bail, claims the arrest was in relation to a series of posts he shared on X in April.
One said: “If a trans-identified male is in a female-only space, he is committing a violent, abusive act. Make a scene, call the cops and if all else fails, punch him in the balls.”
Linehan claims he was admitted to the emergency department due to high blood pressure concerns after questioning.
The Met Police did not identify Linehan but a spokeswoman said: “On Monday, September 1 at 1pm officers arrested a man at Heathrow Airport after he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight.”
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“The man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X,” she said.
“After being taken to police custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital. His condition is neither life-threatening nor life-changing.”
“He has now been bailed pending further investigation. The arrest was made by officers from the MPS Aviation Unit.”
She said that it is routine for officers policing airports to carry firearms.
“These were not drawn or used at any point during the arrest,” she added.
Linehan is due in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, accused of harassing 18-year-old trans activist Sophia Brooks and damaging her phone, which he denies.
Over the last several years, Linehan has been repeatedly critical of the movement for rights for transgender people.
With additional reporting from PA Media
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