Controversial brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate have been arrested in Romania on a European arrest warrant issued by British police.
The charges, which date back to 2012-2015, include allegations of sexual assault which have resurfaced after previously being dismissed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in 2017-2019.
The Bucharest Court of Appeal will today make a decisive decision on whether the mandate should be executed.
A spokesman for the brothers described their arrest as ‘a confusing resurgence of decades-old allegations has left the Tate brothers horrified and deeply troubled.
“They categorically deny all allegations and express deep disappointment that such serious allegations are being revived without substantial new evidence.
“The Tate brothers argue that the timing and circumstances surrounding the repetition of these allegations raise serious questions about the motives behind this legal action.”
Andrew Tate has been arrested in Romania on a warrant issued in the UK
FILE: Andrew Tate, left, and his brother Tristan, center, arrive at the Bucharest Tribunal, in Bucharest, Romania, Friday, April 21, 2023
Former professional kickboxer and social media influencer Andrew Tate (C), followed by his brother Tristan (L), arrives for an appeal against preventive detention at the Bucharest Court of Appeal in Bucharest, Romania, August 1, 2023
The statement continued: ‘The suggestion that Mr Tate’s rise to fame may have played a role in this development adds another layer of worry and concern.
‘Andrew and Tristan Tate unequivocally deny all allegations and reject what they see as an exploitative use of the legal system.
‘They are fully committed to challenging these charges with unwavering resolve and determination.
“The brothers emphasize their belief in a fair and impartial judicial process despite the troubling circumstances surrounding their case.
‘In the face of adversity, the Tate brothers draw strength from the support of their loved ones, friends and legal team.
“They appeal for a fair investigation of the facts and express confidence that a thorough review will reveal the baselessness of the allegations against them.”
It was not immediately clear which British force had issued the order.
Romanian police told MailOnline: ‘On March 11 this year, at around 23:15, the police officers from the Criminal Investigation Service, Special Actions Service and police officers from the Volunteers implemented two European arrest warrants, issued by the judicial authorities of Greater Great Britain, for committing sexual crimes, exploiting some people on the territory of Great Britain.’
In 2019, Hertfordshire police investigated allegations of rape against Andrew Tate, but the case was dropped.
The arrests come just weeks after Andrew Tate was forced to take a drugs test and had his car searched after being stopped by police in Bucharest as he continues to face sex trafficking charges.
The British-American influencer, 37, who has been described as the ‘king of toxic masculinity’, was driving his black Ferrari through the streets of the Romanian capital on Saturday night when he was stopped.
An awkward exchange between the former kickboxer and officers was caught on camera by a Romanian TV station, which was filming the police crackdown on drink and drug drivers at the time.
‘The sponge needs to be filled with saliva and when this indicator is blue we put it in the drug testing machine… Did you understand?’ he is asked in one clip with a test he performs while sitting in the car.
He can then be seen getting out of the vehicle, opening his car for the officer and sniffer dogs to search, and performing another test while standing in the road.
The British-American influencer, 37, drove his black Ferrari through the streets of the Romanian capital on Saturday night.
An awkward exchange between the former kickboxer and officers was caught on camera by a Romanian television station
The results came back negative for Tate, with a screen showing no cocaine, ketamine or other drugs found in his system.
The influencer then drives off in his car after being cleared by police, who said they fine more than 200 drivers in one night.
As well as TV cameras, members of the public were seen filming Tate, who gained worldwide fame through her TikTok videos, which have been criticized for spreading misogynistic messages.
A spokesman for Andrew Tate said in a statement: ‘It was a routine stop by the authorities in Romania. Andrew tested negative.
‘It must have been a coincidence that the media were there at the same time as this routine check was carried out.’
Tate and his brother Tristan are facing charges of rape and human trafficking in Romania, where they have lived since 2017, and are awaiting trial on a yet-to-be-determined date.
The influencer is filmed driving away in his car after being cleared by the police
Tate can be seen performing a test while sitting in the driver’s seat of his black Ferrari
They were detained in December 2022 and were previously in prison before being placed under house arrest – which they were under before winning an appeal to be released last August.
In January 2023, prosecutors seized 10 properties and homes belonging to the brothers, as well as 15 luxury cars.
Speaking to reporters after the ruling, the petrol manager said: ‘They took a lot of things… 15 cars and they took a lot of things of great value. It would be nice to have my things back.’
Petrolhead Tate has a fleet of luxury cars which he only recently gained access to after they were confiscated
He regained access to the vehicles last month when the Bucharest Court of Appeal overturned the decision which allowed his belongings to be confiscated.
Tate legal adviser Eugen Vidineac said after the Court of Appeal’s decision: ‘We welcome today’s decision and applaud the judge for what we believe to be a legally correct and justified decision.
“We will continue to explore all legal options to redeem my clients’ reputations.”