NewsAndrew Tate and his brother Tristan are under arrest

Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are under arrest

Andrew Tate, the controversial influencer and former kickboxer who became famous for his controversial theories on women has been arrested in Romania for 24 hours on a British arrest warrant. The Bucharest Court of Appeals is expected to decide whether to extradite him, Reuters reports.

Former professional kickboxer and social media influencer Andrew Tate (L), accompanied by a masked police officer, leaves the building after a hearing on a British arrest warrant, held at the Bucharest Appeal Court, in Bucharest, Romania, 12 March 2024. According to the Romanian police, Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were detained on 11 March over a British arrest warrant related to sex offenses charges. The two brothers were arrested in December 2022 as a result of the DIICOT (Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism) inquiry on charges of human trafficking and intention to form an organized crime group, however on 31 March 2023 they were moved from police custody to house arrest with immediate effect. Their trial in Romania has not started yet. EPA/Robert Ghement Dostawca: PAP/EPA.

Images source: © PAP | PAP/EPA/Robert Ghement

11:58 AM EDT, March 12, 2024

Brothers categorically deny allegations

Controversial influencer and former kickboxer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested Monday night on charges of sexual assault allegedly committed between 2012 and 2015. The men and their lawyers "categorically" deny the allegations against them. The detention order was issued by Westminster Magistrates Court.

"Brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate were forcibly detained for 24 hours and handed a European arrest warrant by UK authorities. The charges, dating back to 2012-2015, include allegations of sexual aggression," Andrew Tate's PR representative said in a statement.

As reported, no decision has yet been made on when the hearing to consider the order will take place.

Last August, Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan were released from house arrest in Romania and placed under judicial review for a period of 60 days from August 4 to October 2, according to a Romanian court. The men were charged with human trafficking and rape.

The suspects were under house arrest pending the completion of an investigation into crimes committed against seven women.

First arrest

Tate was first arrested in Bucharest in December 2022, then he and his brother were detained in police custody until March. Andrew Tate was also accused of raping one of the victims, while his brother Tristan was charged with inciting others to violence.

According to BBC, in December, a Romanian court ruled that the Tate brothers, who hold dual citizenship in the UK and the US, were not allowed to leave Romania following their request to visit their mother in a UK hospital.

The brothers face allegations of exploiting women through an adult content enterprise, which, according to prosecutors, functioned as a criminal organization. Along with the Tate brothers, two female associates from Romania were implicated in an indictment that came out in June, identifying seven supposed victims. Tate has consistently argued that Romanian authorities lack proof against him, suggesting there's a plot aimed at silencing him.

Source: BBC, Reuters