Far-right campaigner Daniel Thomas, 37, known as Danny Tommo, has been detained following footage allegedly showing him slashing the side of an inflatable dinghy in the English Channel while a rescue crew member remained aboard. The Patriot Platform leader shared video on YouTube that appeared to capture his arrest, with an officer informing him he was being held on suspicion of criminal damage "recklessly endangering someone's life".
Arrest and footage
Earlier video posted on YouTube showed him apparently shouting "traitors" while using a blade to puncture the side of the craft that had been utilised by people smugglers to ferry migrants across the Channel. He was seen seeming to cut and pierce the small vessel after a member of a rescue team had climbed aboard to seemingly return the boat to France.
Mr Thomas appears to have also recorded his own detention following the incident in footage broadcast on his channel last night. The clip shows Mr Thomas exiting a vehicle which seemed to be hemmed in by other cars at a filling station. He can be heard asking officers if he can use his mobile to speak to his children.
Police statement
One constable is recorded saying: "The information that I've been given... is that you've been involved in criminal damage recklessly endangering someone's life." Mr Thomas then repeatedly said: "I understand."
A Hampshire Police statement said: "A man has been arrested after a boat that had an emergency responder on board, was damaged in the English Channel. We received a report of the incident on Tuesday evening."
"Last night, a 37-year-old man, of no fixed abode, was arrested on suspicion of destroying ships or fixed platforms or endangering their safety under Section 11 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990, criminal damage, criminal damage with intent to endanger life, and conduct endangering ships, structures or individuals under Section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995."
"He remains in custody at this time."
Gosport protests and charges
Hundreds of protesters assembled in Gosport on Tuesday following Mr Thomas filming himself heading out to sea in an attempt to intercept a dinghy transporting dozens of migrants. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed three individuals have been charged after congregating at the marina where they believed the vessel's passengers would disembark. Six people were detained by officers throughout the evening, the force confirmed.
Shannon Dodds, 32, of Gosport, has been charged with two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker. She has been remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on Thursday. Sally Pearson, 31, also of Gosport, has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence. She has also been remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on Thursday. Toby Matthews, 33, from Gosport, has been charged with common assault of an emergency worker. He was bailed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on November 9.
Some demonstrators in Gosport dressed in black attire and face coverings, chanting "send them back", mistakenly believing the vessel would arrive at the Hampshire shoreline. However, it actually reached Dover, Kent, at approximately 12.30am on Wednesday following reports that 51 migrants aboard declined assistance from a French vessel and endured 33 hours at sea.
Migrant crossings and figures
In footage shared on X on Wednesday morning, Mr Thomas described the latest migrant landings as a "sad day for the country" while maintaining that demonstrator pressure "worked in some respects" by preventing arrivals from reaching Gosport.
The migrant dinghy departed the Normandy coastline on Monday and was monitored by a French coastguard ship, with officials stating the occupants had rejected assistance as they were "determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom". British rescue vessels were dispatched to retrieve the passengers on Tuesday, with the UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency confirming they would be handed over to Border Security Command.
Earlier this month, a dinghy was intercepted by lifeboats from the Isle of Wight having departed from the Cherbourg region, sparking demonstrations in Portsmouth. It's believed to have completed one of the lengthiest journeys undertaken by any small boat crossing the Channel. A further two migrant boats also succeeded in reaching UK shores undetected on Monday and Tuesday this week, marking the first unescorted arrivals in a year and the only time since the start of 2023. A Home Office spokesman confirmed that 21 individuals who arrived on Tuesday had been detained.
A total of 17,480 migrants have reached shore after crossing the Channel by boat so far this year, with 5,011 arriving since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister. The figure for 2026 thus far represents a 46% decrease compared to the same period last year.
