Anti-Migrant Activist Accused of Slashing Migrant Boat in English Channel

Police are investigating a video that appears to show an anti-migrant activist, identified as Daniel Thomas and known to supporters as Danny Tommo, slashing at an inflatable boat with a knife in the English Channel. The incident occurred as the boat, carrying approximately 50 migrants who had launched from Normandy, was within the UK's search and rescue area. The migrants were later picked up by RNLI lifeboats and taken to Dover for processing.

Thomas was reportedly filming the transfer from a yellow speedboat, broadcasting to an online audience of over 15,000 people. The video in question shows him approaching the migrant boat, withdrawing a knife, and making slashing motions at its side. At the time of the alleged slashing, there were no migrants on board, but a French official from the coastguard vessel Abeille Liberté was present.

During the live stream, Thomas was heard shouting, "Right, you are on English territory. This is England. This is not France any more," and "Get off - get off. You've got time to get off the boat." It remains unclear from the footage if any damage was inflicted on the boat.

Following the incident, Thomas told his followers that the intention was "to make sure that boat was not taken back to France and used again." The campaign group Stand Up To Racism condemned the footage on the social media platform X, calling it "disgusting."