A Romanian court has ruled social media influencer Andrew Tate will remain in custody for 30 days.

It comes after he was arrested in Romania along with brother Tristan on suspicion of human trafficking, rape and forming an organised crime group, prosecutors said.

Two other suspects, who are Romanian, were also in custody.

All four will be held for 30 days during an investigation after a judge extended their initial detention period of 24 hours, said Ramona Bolla, a spokesperson for Romanian anti-organised crime agency DIICOT.

All four suspects have already appealed the extension, which is unlikely to be heard in court before next week, the spokesman added.

Commenting on the court decision, Tate’s lawyer Eugen Constantin Vidineac told reporters: “From our perspective, there are no grounds… for taking this most drastic preventive measure, but it is the judge’s prerogative.”

In a video of his arrest on Thursday, Tate could be heard saying “the matrix has attacked me” as he was escorted away by police.

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The controversial internet personality has been embroiled in a Twitter spat with Greta Thunberg this week, with the climate activist taunting him following his arrest.

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Who is the controversial Andrew Tate?
Social media influencer Andrew Tate arrested

Tate, a former kickboxer, was banned from Twitter in 2017 for his misogynistic views and hate speech but was reinstated last month.

He has suggested rape victims “bear some responsibility” for being attacked, and has described women as “property” belonging to men.

Tate has denied holding misogynistic views and accused his critics of “twisting facts”, although he has also described himself as the “king of toxic masculinity”.

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