Comedy writer arrested by armed police at UK's Heathrow Airport over speech violations

Graham Linehan, the acclaimed Irish comedy writer known for creating Father Ted and The IT Crowd, was arrested by five armed police officers at Heathrow Airport on September 1 after arriving from Arizona.

The Metropolitan Police detained the 57-year-old on suspicion of inciting violence, linked to three posts he made on social in April criticizing transgender issues.

The incident has ignited a fierce debate over free speech in the UK. Linehan detailed the arrest on his Substack, describing how officers escorted him to a private area upon landing and informed him of the charges. He was held in a cell, questioned, and later taken to hospital after his blood pressure spiked to dangerous levels, which he attributed to the stress of the ordeal.

Released on bail with a condition barring him from posting on X, Linehan faces a separate harassment charge, with a court appearance scheduled for Thursday.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a man in his 50s but did not name Linehan, stating it related to X posts and that his health condition was neither life-threatening nor life-changing.

Officers from the MPS Aviation Unit, who routinely carry firearms at airports, made the arrest without drawing weapons.The case has drawn widespread condemnation, with J.K. Rowling labeling it “totalitarianism” and Elon Musk calling the UK a “police state.”

Critics argue the response was disproportionate, especially amid rising violent crime, while supporters of the action say online incitement must be addressed. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has called for legal clarification, noting officers are caught in “toxic culture wars” dilemma.