George Galloway Detained at Gatwick airport Under Terrorism Act
Former Member of Parliament George Galloway and his wife, Putri Gayatri Pertiwi, were briefly detained at Gatwick Airport on Saturday, September 27, under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border security Act 2019. The Metropolitan Police confirmed the couple were stopped by counter terrorism officers but were afterward allowed to leave.
The pair had returned to the UK from Moscow via Abu Dhabi, according to reports. The Act grants authorities the power to stop individuals to determine if they are involved in activities that could threaten the UK’s national security or economic wellbeing.
“We can confirm that on Saturday September 27 counter terrorism officers at Gatwick Airport stopped a man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s under Schedule 3 of the Counter Terrorism and Border Security Act 2019,” the Met stated. “Neither of them were arrested and they were allowed on their way.”
galloway, 71, currently leads the Workers Party of Britain and lost his Rochdale seat in last year’s general election after winning it in a by-election. He is known for his criticism of British and US foreign policy, particularly regarding support for Ukraine.
A statement released by the Workers Party of Britain on X (formerly Twitter) condemned the detention as an “attempt to intimidate those who seek amity rather than enmity with the rest of the world,” asserting there was “never any chance of an offense.” The party also claimed they were obstructed from providing legal support and alleged the incident was “designed to intimidate political opponents of the drive towards war with Russia and China.”
Galloway has previously served as an MP for Glasgow, east London, and Bradford, representing Labor and later the Respect Party. He gained public attention in 2006 as a contestant on the reality television show Big Brother, prompting criticism and scrutiny over his activities while representing his constituents.
