Five British men have been arrested in France after allegedly travelling along the Channel coast in a so-called “battle bus” to intimidate migrants attempting to cross to the UK. The men, aged between 30 and 46, were detained in Grande-Synthe, near Dunkirk, on Thursday after French police allegedly discovered tear gas and pepper-spray canisters and a baton in their minibus.
The vehicle, which reportedly had reinforced windows, had been nicknamed the “battle bus” by its occupants. French authorities described the five men as members of an “ultra-right movement” and accused them of live-streaming acts of intimidation against migrants hoping to reach Britain in small boats.
Arrests announced by regional authorities
The arrests were announced by the local authorities in the Hauts-de-France region, who said the state would not tolerate actions that encouraged hatred and violence. The men were suspected of taking part in a group formed to prepare violence against people and transporting weapons without legitimate justification.
However, they have avoided prosecution under an agreement with the French authorities. A judge instead ordered them to stay out of the northern French departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais for six months, it is reported. They were also ordered to pay €500 (£418) each to a migrant aid organisation, while the weapons were confiscated.
Weapons and potential sentences
Local prosecutor Charlotte Huet said the men had been carrying tear gas and pepper-spray canisters as well as a baton. Under French law, the weapons could not be carried without a legitimate reason.
Had they been charged and convicted of preparing violence as part of a group and carrying weapons unlawfully, they could have faced up to a year in prison and a €15,000 fine. The weapons offence could have carried a sentence of up to two years' imprisonment and a €30,000 fine if committed by two or more people acting together.
Previous incidents involving British activists
The case is the latest involving British anti-migrant activists travelling to the northern French coast to confront people attempting to cross the Channel. In January, 10 British nationals described as far-Right activists from the anti-immigration group Raise the Colours were banned from entering France. They had been accused of inciting violence and hatred against migrants over several months.
Four of the 10 were alleged to have carried out physical and verbal attacks at Grand-Fort-Philippe last September. In a separate incident in January, two British men suspected of planning anti-migrant activities in Calais were arrested and deported. They were alleged to have been preparing to take part in an operation known as Operation Overlord, a campaign targeting migrants attempting to reach Britain.
British activists calling themselves “migrant hunters” have clashed with French police in recent months while attempting to prevent migrants from boarding small boats. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has accused them of threatening public order and obstructing police.
Some have used monetised Instagram and YouTube channels to help fund their trips, filming themselves confronting migrants and police along the coast. Aid workers from the migrant support organisation Utopia 56 have also reported seeing some British activists making Nazi salutes. They say the number of British militants operating along the French coast has increased over the past two years.
