Activist Drew Pavlou claims he is facing seven years in prison for fake UK bomb threat

An infamous Aussie human rights activist claims he was arrested in the UK over a fake bomb threat sent by China.

Infamous Australian human rights activist Drew Pavlou claims he is facing seven years in prison after being detained for nearly a day in the United Kingdom over a fake bomb threat.

Mr Pavlou, 23, said he was holding a “small human rights protest” with a Uyghur flag outside London’s Chinese Embassy when he was arrested by British police.

He said officers told him it was because the Chinese Embassy had reported him as a bomb threat — an allegation he called “patently ridiculous and absurd”.

Drew Pavlou alleged that he was arrested over a bomb threat sent via a fake email address.

“The Chinese Embassy reported me to police as a bomb threat, they produced fake email ‘This is Drew Pavlou today I will blow up the Embassy for Uyghurs – regards Drew’ ... the fake email address was [e-mail],” he wrote on Twitter.

“The Chinese government is trying to frame me for a London bomb threat. I need help, I’m struggling.”

Mr Pavlou said he was detained in a cell by police for 23 hours and was told he could not leave the country.

“UK Police handcuffed me in stress position and held me incommunicado for 23 hours with no access to lawyers,” he said.

“They seized my phone and said I can’t leave the country, I face a seven-year prison sentence.”

Mr Pavlou said no formal charges had been laid but he was under investigation.

I currently face 7 years in prison because the Chinese Embassy forwarded UK Police a fake email from ''[e-mail]'' saying ''This is Drew Pavlou you have until 12 PM to stop the Uyghur Genocide or I blow up the embassy with a bomb regards Drew.'' THIS IS INSANE

— Drew Pavlou (@DrewPavlou) July 22, 2022

He wanted to return home to Australia and said he did not have the resources to stay in Britain and fight the claim.

“It’s just absolute insanity. Why would I throw away my life like that, I’m a peaceful protester,” Mr Pavlou said.

“I miss my family. I can’t leave the country, they’re threatening to arrest me at the border.

“I have no money to stay in the UK for months to clear my name … I’ve been couch surfing this entire time. If I’m stuck here for months I will be homeless.”

Mr Pavlou said he wrote to Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and requested urgent consular assistance.

The Chinese Embassy in London reported me as a terrorist for peacefully protesting outside, UK police arrested me and held me incommunicado so no one knew where I was, I was inside for 23 hours, I want to go home I miss my family but they’ve threatened to arrest me at the border pic.twitter.com/fQgfZVnE3s

— Drew Pavlou (@DrewPavlou) July 23, 2022

“I know I have been a critic of Foreign Minister Wong in the past and I am sorry, this is a desperate hour of need,” he said.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson said Mr Pavlou has been offered consular assistance.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has offered consular assistance to Drew Pavlou, an Australian who was arrested, and subsequently released, in the United Kingdom,” they said.

“Officials from Australia’s High Commission in London will raise Mr Pavlou’s claim that he was denied consular access before being released with UK authorities.”

Mr Pavlou’s profile has grown over the past three years for his continued criticism of the Chinese government and Chinese Communist Party.

The University of Queensland student made world headlines earlier this month for interrupting the men’s Wimbledon final between Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic by holding up a “Where is Peng Shuai?” sign.

Drew Pavlou being kicked out from the men’s Wimbledon final by security. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

He also said he was responsible for sending a Kim Jong-un impersonator to former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s press conference.

Mr Pavlou ran for the Senate at this year’s federal election under his Drew Pavlou Democratic Alliance Party.