Overview

• The Metropolitan Police confirmed a man in his 50s was arrested at Heathrow on suspicion of inciting violence in relation to three April posts on X, which Linehan identified and described in a Substack post.
• Linehan said five armed officers detained him on arrival from Arizona; the Met noted airport officers routinely carry firearms and said none were drawn.
• After being taken into custody, officers became concerned for his health and he was taken to hospital, with police stating his condition was neither life‑threatening nor life‑changing.
• He was released on bail with a reported condition that he must not post on X, and he says he has been told to return for a further interview in October; he has not been charged in this matter.
• Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley defended the arrest as based on reasonable grounds but urged changes or clarification to the law and said the force will tighten triage to pursue only cases with a clear risk of harm; politicians and public figures offered sharply differing reactions, and Linehan also faces a separate court appearance this week on earlier harassment and criminal damage charges.