London, September 24: A 37-year-old far-right activist has been arrested in the UK after allegedly slashing an inflatable boat in the English Channel, according to British police.
A video shared on social media appears to show Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, using a knife to damage an inflatable boat while shouting, “You're in English territory.” The boat was reportedly empty of migrants at the time, although a member of the rescue services was aboard.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said a 37-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday evening on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life and endangering the safety of a vessel. Police said he remained in custody on Thursday.
British police generally do not identify suspects by name unless they have been formally charged.
Thomas is a longtime associate of far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, and founded the group Patriot Platform, which has been involved in recent protests against migrants arriving in the UK by small boats.
Earlier this month, masked protesters reportedly blocked the port of Dover and attempted to prevent migrants from being brought ashore in Portsmouth.
The movement of migrants across the English Channel in small boats remains a major political and security issue in Britain. More than 41,000 people crossed the Channel in 2025, according to the report.
The issue has also featured prominently in political debate, with anti-immigration activists and politicians, including Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, calling for tougher measures to prevent the crossings.
The British government says increased law-enforcement cooperation between the UK and France has contributed to a reduction of more than 40 per cent in Channel crossings so far this year compared with 2025.
