French authorities have arrested two British far-right activists in what is believed to be the first case of its kind. The men, aged 35 and 53, were taken into custody near Calais on Sunday evening while broadcasting live videos from the French coast.
The arrests come after a prefectural order was issued on Friday prohibiting British activists from gathering for a planned “stop the boats” protest nicknamed Operation Overlord in the departments of Nord and Pas-de-Calais. The order was extended for two days on Monday.
François-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of Boulogne-sur-Mer, said the two men were broadcasting content that allegedly contained discriminatory remarks and suggested their potential involvement in Operation Overlord. Police sources told Le Monde that the men had been recording content likely to incite hatred live on a YouTube channel.
Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor Cécile Gressier said the men were placed in police custody for inciting hatred and participating in a group with the aim of preparing acts of violence, based on comments made on social media. She said these were the first arrests of British far-right activists in France on these grounds, adding that they were not accused of violence against individuals.
UK far-right activists have been travelling to northern France with increasing frequency in recent months, declaring an intention to stop small boats from crossing the Channel. In 2025, more than 40,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats, and so far in 2026 another 931 people have made the journey. On previous visits, far-right agitators have posted footage of themselves slashing dinghies and confronting migrants.
The two men were not among the 10 far-right activists banned from French territory since mid-January by the interior ministry on charges of “violent actions” against migrants. Lauch said the French authorities would take strict administrative measures, including issuing an order to leave French territory based on the threat to public order.
