Andrew Tate: controversial online figure and brother Tristian detained in Romania after UK authorities issue arrest warrant

Controversial online figure Andrew Tate has been detained in Romania after an arrest warrant was issued by UK authorities.

Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan, 35, were both arrested following sexual aggression accusations which are alleged to have taken place between 2012 and 2015. Both brothers deny all allegations, with an investigation pending by police.

Tate's spokeswoman said the Bucharest Court of Appeal is set to make a “pivotal decision” on Tuesday on whether to execute the warrants issued by Westminster Magistrates' Court. It is understood that the arrest warrants relate to alleged offenses being investigated by Bedfordshire Police.

It comes as the pair face human trafficking and rape charges in Romania. Both Andrew and Tristan have remained under house arrest after having previously been held in custody, with a trial date sill yet to be decided. Lawyers representing four women accusing the pair of sexual assault wrote to UK police forces to push for detention of them both after fears were raised that they were set to flee the country, despite this being prohibited under their house arrest order.

A statement from law firm McCue Jury & Partners, the lawyers acting on behalf of Tate’s British accusers, said: “Last week, we received information that Tate might have been planning to flee Romania, where he is due to stand trial for separate allegations of rape and human trafficking. We wrote to the British police to bring this to their attention and to urge them to immediately seek a warrant for Tate’s detention in Romania and extradition to the UK.”

Matthew Jury, managing partner at McCue Jury & Partners, added: “Today’s news is very welcome as it has been a significant concern to many that Tate would seek to avoid justice in Romania and abroad. We are grateful to the British authorities for taking our concerns seriously and issuing an arrest warrant.”

In a statement, a representative for the Tate brothers said: “This bewildering revival of decade-old accusations has left the Tate brothers dismayed and deeply troubled. They categorically reject all charges and express profound disappointment that such serious allegations are being resurrected without substantial new evidence.

“The Tate brothers assert that the timing and circumstances surrounding the reappearance of these allegations raise serious questions about the motives behind this legal action. The suggestion that Mr Tate’s rise to fame may have played a role in these developments adds another layer of distress and concern.”

Tate has grown to be one of the most controversial figures on the internet, with the influencer, who has 8.9m followers on X (formerly Twitter), branding himself the "king of toxic masculinity". His views on topics such as women and politics has gained him a following from some corners of the internet while also garnering criticism from others.