Key points
- Police cite suspicion of inciting violence
- Rowling and Musk slam free speech crackdown
- UK’s online speech laws spark criticism
ISLAMABAD: Graham Linehan, writer of Father Ted and The IT Crowd, was arrested at Heathrow Airport over three social media posts concerning transgender issues.
According to The Guardian, the 57-year-old said five armed officers detained him after he flew in from Arizona. Writing on Substack, Linehan said he was told he was under arrest for posts made on X in April, in which he challenged a “trans-identified male” in a “female-only space.”
He said after being taken to a cell and questioned, his blood pressure rose to “over 200 – stroke territory”, prompting a hospital visit. He was later discharged and released on bail.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed a man in his 50s was arrested at 1 pm on 1 September at Heathrow, on suspicion of inciting violence. “The arrest was made by officers from the MPS aviation unit. It is routine for officers policing airports to carry firearms. These were not drawn or used at any point during the arrest.”
Threatening free speech
The arrest has fuelled debate around the regulation of online speech in the UK, especially under the new Online Safety Act. US Vice President JD Vance has criticised the UK’s approach, warning it is going down a “very dark path” by threatening free speech.
Linehan’s case follows that of Lucy Connolly, a woman from Northampton, jailed for a post urging violence during last summer’s riots. Her case has become a right-wing cause célèbre, with Nigel Farage set to raise it before a US House committee.
JK Rowling criticised the arrest, asking “what has the UK become?” Elon Musk responded: “Police state.”
Opposition MPs also condemned the move. Robert Jenrick called it “a complete waste of police time”, while others said it showed misplaced priorities in policing.
Downing Street declined to comment, calling it “an operational matter for the police.”
