Anti-Migrant Activist Arrested for Slashing Boat in English Channel
Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, was detained on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life.
Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life and endangering the safety of a ship, following the release of a video that appears to show him slashing at a boat in the English Channel. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary reported the arrest of a 37-year-old man of no fixed abode after the incident involving a boat that had an emergency responder on board.
The man, also known by supporters as Danny Tommo, was live-streaming on social media on Tuesday when the footage was recorded. The video shows him appearing to slash at the boat with a knife. A French coastguard official was aboard the vessel at the time. Approximately 50 migrants who had traveled from Normandy had already been taken to Dover for processing.
Thomas has been active in organizing anti-migrant protests. In early September, he rallied support for demonstrations in Dover and Portsmouth that involved road blockades by hundreds of people, some wearing black balaclavas. He founded Patriot Platform earlier this year, a venture through which he has been calling for "mass resistance" to "take our country back."
Far-right activist Tommy Robinson shared a video of Thomas's arrest on social media late Wednesday, stating it was in response to an attempt to "stop the invasion of our country."