Tony Blair brushes off attempt at citizen’s arrest

Tony Blair has played down an attempt by a bar worker at a London restaurant to arrest him.

Tony Blair offered to discuss the issue with Twiggy Garcia. Picture: Getty

The former prime minister was reportedly approached by Twiggy Garcia while he was dining with family and friends at the Tramshed restaurant in Shoreditch.

Mr Garcia said he was making a citizen’s arrest on the grounds that Mr Blair was a “war criminal” who had launched an “unprovoked war against Iraq”.

The barman told the Vice magazine website: “I went over to him, put my hand on his shoulder and said, ‘Mr Blair, this is a citizen’s arrest for a crime against peace, namely your decision to launch an unprovoked war against Iraq. I am inviting you to accompany me to a police station to answer the charge’.

“He said, ‘No, shouldn’t you be worried about Syria?’

“Then he asked me, ‘But don’t you agree that Saddam was a brutal dictator and he needed to be removed?’ and I replied, ‘Not by an illegal war’.”

Mr Garcia said Mr Blair’s companions stepped in after he again asked the politician to accompany him to a police station.

“One of his sons got up and went to get the plain clothes security [staff] from downstairs. I decided to get out of there.”

Mr Garcia, who is also an aspiring music producer, said he had resigned from his job immediately.

A spokesman for Mr Blair said: “Mr Blair did offer to discuss the issue. That offer was declined and the individual walked off.

“Nothing else happened. Everyone is fine and they had a great time at the restaurant.”

A spokeswoman for Tramshed declined to comment.