Galloway and wife detained by counter-terrorism police at Gatwick, later released without charge

LONDON — Former MP George Galloway and his wife were detained by counter-terrorism police at Gatwick airport on arrival in London from Moscow via Abu Dhabi, according to reports.

The couple were held by officers for several hours before being released without charge, according to statements from their supporters. The Workers Party of Britain, of which Galloway is the leader, described the detention as politically motivated intimidation and said police had refused to disclose information about the case. In a statement posted on X, the party said: “At 11am we were informed by police officers in Gatwick that our party leader George Galloway and his wife have been detained at the airport. The police agreed that they would pass a message to our comrades from us and pass back a reply from them. Despite repeated attempts to gather further information, and despite repeated calls to the police, we have no further information on their wellbeing, nor on the observation of their Rights. There is no information on charges or alleged offences. Therefore we may conclude this is politically motivated intimidation. We call on all supporters and friends to amplify this message and demand the IMMEDIATE RELEASE of our leaders.”

The incident followed a journey that saw Galloway land in London after traveling from Moscow, with the flight reportedly routing through Abu Dhabi. The party’s statement did not indicate any formal charges or alleged offences at the time of the post, and there was no immediate public explanation from law enforcement about the detention.

The couple were eventually freed without charge, the party later said, though it supplied no updated information on their wellbeing or the outcome of any internal review. The episodes were described by the Workers Party of Britain as a worrying example of what it called politically motivated intimidation and a lack of transparency from authorities, underscoring the ongoing tensions some political figures say exist between security services and public voices.

Security services and police in the United Kingdom routinely handle investigations that can involve politicians and public figures, but officials have historically emphasized that detentions or stops are standard operational matters conducted under applicable law. The specifics of any case, including potential offenses or charges, were not publicly disclosed by police as of late Tuesday, and a formal statement from authorities had not been issued in connection with this event.

The episode drew attention to the Workers Party of Britain, which Galloway leads, and prompted renewed debate about how security and counter-terrorism measures intersect with political activity. Supporters and critics alike awaited further details from officials to determine whether the detention was related to travel conditions, security considerations, or broader investigations. As the story developed, observers cautioned against drawing conclusions without official, corroborated information.

Images captured during or after the incident circulated on social media and in media galleries, illustrating the tense moment at the airport.