Home

Aussie activist Drew Pavlou back in Brisbane after UK ‘nightmare’

Hamish SpenceNCA NewsWire
Not Supplied
Camera IconNot Supplied Credit: Supplied

An outspoken human rights activist has kissed the ground upon his return home to Australia after he was held in the UK for four weeks over what he alleges was a fake bomb threat.

Drew Pavlou, 23, a staunch critic and protester of the Chinese Communist Party, touched down in Brisbane overnight after weeks of trying to get out of Britain.

He was arrested outside London’s Chinese Embassy on July 21 while holding what he described as a small and peaceful protest.

Mr Pavlou said his life had been “hell” while he was “stranded” in the UK and the Chinese government had attempted to “weaponize” the British legal system against him.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW
drew
Camera IconDrew Pavlou kisses the ground upon his return home to Australia. @DrewPavlou / Twitter Credit: Supplied

“I’m never been happier in my entire f***ing life to get on a plane, getting out of this hell hole. Thank God,” he said on Twitter.

“UK Police refused to let me leave for four weeks after the Chinese Embassy in London framed me for a fake bomb threat. Now the nightmare is almost over.

“The police investigation continues but I will soon be totally exonerated. Then we sue everyone involved.”

Mr Pavlou was allowed to return to Australia after his bail conditions were relaxed by Metropolitan Police.

But their investigation is still ongoing and he is due back in the UK in October.

drew
Camera IconMr Pavlou with his family after touching down at the airport. @DrewPavlou / Twitter Credit: Supplied

Mr Pavlou said he planned to display the Tibetan and Taiwanese flags and the Kokbayraq (a symbol commonly used by Uyghur activists) outside the Chinese Embassy on that fateful day back in July.

But he was arrested by police on charges related to criminal damages and items carried with the intent to cause criminal damage to the embassy as well as what he alleged was a bomb threat sent from a fake email address.

Mr Pavlou has consistently denied responsibility for the email and alleged that he was set up by the Chinese government.

“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 drewpavlou99@proton.me,” he wrote at the time.

“The Chinese government is trying to frame me for a London bomb threat.”

Mr Pavlou also said he was kept in police custody in a small cell for almost a full day following the incident.

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

Mr Pavlou has consistently denied sending a bomb threat to London’s Chinese embassy. Instagram / drewpavlou
Camera IconMr Pavlou has consistently denied sending a bomb threat to London’s Chinese embassy. Instagram / drewpavlou Credit: Supplied

The potential charges police are still holding over Mr Pavlou can carry seven years in prison, but he has expressed confidence that his name will be cleared.

“When they inevitably drop this idiotic investigation I am going to sue for the pain and suffering. Everyone knows I’ve been framed by the Chinese government,” he said.

Mr Pavlou also thanked the Australian High Commission for helping him return home after he previously reached out to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong for help.

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

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.

Originally published as Aussie activist Drew Pavlou back in Brisbane after UK ‘nightmare’

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails