An associate of right-wing activist Tommy Robinson has appeared to claim credit for demonstrations which saw hundreds of masked protesters cause traffic chaos in Dover. Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, shared footage from the anti-illegal migrant protest in a post on social media, saying: "This is our warning."
The protests saw hundreds of demonstrators dressed all in black and with balaclavas block road access to the Kent port on Saturday morning. A group was seen marching through the town and chanting "Whose streets? Our streets" and "Stop the boats" as dozens of police officers followed.
Patriot Platform linked to action
Campaign group Hope Not Hate linked the action to the Patriot Platform, which Tommo recently launched. Sharing a video of protesters marching on Instagram, Tommo wrote: "It's time! Protect our country! And more importantly our women and children! This is our warning!"
Another video shared by Tommo showed the words "blood is on your hands" spray-painted on the ground outside Western Jet Foil, a short-term holding facility for migrants arriving into the UK on small boats.
Robinson weighs in on protests
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, weighed in on the protests himself on social media, suggesting they were part of a co-ordinated plan. He wrote on X: "Simultaneously at different locations across Dover patriots have mobilised to close down the port."
Tommo and Robinson have frequently appeared together at political rallies and events, with Tommo described by some media outlets and Hope Not Hate as Robinson's "right-hand-man". Tommo attended Robinson's Unite the Kingdom rally in May, lauding it as an "incredible" achievement in a video on social media.
Hope Not Hate condemns action
Hope Not Hate said the demonstrations show a growing trend of "anti-migrant vigilantism coming to a head in the public eye". The group wrote: "Today, we could see Patriot Platform for what it is: a far-right network of men happy to intimidate and inconvenience an entire town for what was effectively a publicity stunt."
Tommo has described the Patriot Platform as "the resistance standing against the downfall of the United Kingdom", with contingents across the country.
Saturday's demonstrations brought traffic on roads leading to UK's busiest international ferry and passenger port to a halt, delaying some ferry services and blocking major roads. A Government spokesperson said it condemned protesters' behaviour "and the travel disruption it has caused". Kent Police said no arrests were made during the "spontaneous protest", adding demonstrators had dispersed by midday.
