Graham Linehan the creator of Father Ted was arrested by five armed police at Heathrow Airport over a simple tweet about trans people.
The Conservatives have slammed the arrest as “ridiculous” and the police have been accused of “arresting people for making jokes.”
He was detained by five armed cops at Heathrow after he flew from Arizona after he made three tweets.
Author and campaigner JK Rowling said the arrest of the Father Ted creator is “totalitarianism” and “deplorable.”
Linehan was arrested and taken to a police cell then questioned over the posts he wrote some four months ago, it has been reported that part of his bail conditions means he is not allowed the freedom of speech or expression to post on X.
Linehan said his blood pressure had reached “stroke territory” and he was taken to hospital and was then kept in to be monitored, he was then released on bail.
The Met Police said officers arrested Linehan on Monday ““on suspicion of inciting violence” and that the arrest was “in relation to posts on X”.
The Met spokeswoman said it is “routine” for officers that patrol airports to be “armed” and their weapons “were not drawn or used at any point during the arrest.”
Shadow cabinet minister Claire Coutinho said: “Britain used to be known for its sense of humour. Now the police are arresting people for making jokes.
“You live in a society? Occasionally you’re going to be offended. That’s how it works.”
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick said this is “ridiculous and a complete waste of police time”.
He wrote on X, “The police only respond to 1 in 5 reported shoplifting offences, but deploy 5 armed officers to arrest a comedian over three tweets.
“We desperately need to end this nonsense and go after actual criminals.”
Labour backbencher Jonathan Hinder said this arrest shows that there needs to be a “serious reset to get the priorities right” whilst policing, Independent MP Rupert Lowe fumed, “I stand with Linehan.”
JK Rowling wrote on X, “What the f*** has the UK become? This is totalitarianism. Utterly deplorable.”
A Met spokeswoman said: “On Monday September 1 at 1pm officers arrested a man at Heathrow Airport after he arrived on an inbound American Airlines flight.
“The man in his 50s was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence. This is in relation to posts on X.
“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.
“It is routine for officers policing airports to carry firearms. These were not drawn or used at any point during the arrest.”
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