Far-right agitator and anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas has been arrested on suspicion of “criminal damage with intent to endanger life” after filming himself apparently slashing the side of a dinghy in the middle of the Channel while a rescue worker was on board.
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said a 37-year-old man of no fixed address had been arrested after a boat with an emergency responder on board was damaged in the Channel. He was arrested “on suspicion of destroying ships or fixed platforms or endangering their safety.”
He was also suspected of “criminal damage, criminal damage with intent to endanger life, and conduct endangering ships, structures or individuals.” Police said he remained in custody on Thursday.
The force had earlier said it was reviewing footage livestreamed by Thomas, in which he can reportedly be seen using a knife to stab and slash an inflatable dinghy in the middle of the Channel after asylum seekers had been helped to safety — but with a French rescue worker who had just boarded.
Thomas’s footage appeared to show him approaching one of the empty dinghies and shouting: “Let’s get rid of that boat.” After the rescue worker got on board, Thomas shouted: “Get off the boat. You’ve got time to get off the boat.” His footage shows his boat speeding away before the rescue worker climbed back onto the larger vessel.
Thomas, who goes by the name Danny Tommo, had spent the afternoon in a boat, filming himself as he tracked two dinghies carrying asylum seekers from France to the UK. The livestreamed footage was watched by more than 200,000 people.
View image in fullscreenFar-right activist Daniel Thomas in London this month. Photograph: Carl Court/Getty Images
A longtime associate of fellow far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, Thomas this summer gathered dozens of nationalist protest groups under the umbrella anti-immigration movement Patriot Platform. The organisation was behind marches this month in Dover and Portsmouth, where masked men in black gathered to protest immigration and asylum policy. Thomas repeatedly told his followers they should march silently, without violence, and avoid doing anything that could lead to arrests.
Thomas apparently managed to film and upload footage of his own arrest before police could stop him. On Wednesday night, a 56-second clip was uploaded to his YouTube channel showing a police officer telling him he was being arrested on suspicion of criminal damage “recklessly endangering someone’s life.”
Thomas said: “I understand. I knew this was coming.”
His arrest came amid renewed focus on the Home Office’s handling of small-boat arrivals in the UK, after two uncontrolled landings from the Channel in two days. Most small boats carrying asylum seekers to the UK are escorted to shore by rescue services or Border Force vessels, and no unescorted small boats had been recorded since 6 September 2025.
Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: “You can’t stop everything all of the time,” after 21 people were detained when a boat evaded Border Force to reach the beach at Samphire Hoe in Dover on Wednesday. Another dinghy made an uncontrolled landing in Folkestone on Monday morning.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered an urgent review by Border Security Command, describing the failure to intercept the two boats as “not acceptable.”
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Powell said: “Of course, it’s a concern. That’s why the home secretary has demanded and ordered this urgent review, because this is not what we want to see. This is not acceptable.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs regarding the arrest of Daniel Thomas
Beginner Questions
Who is Daniel Thomas
He is a farright activist who was arrested by police in connection with an incident in the English Channel
What was he arrested for
He was arrested on suspicion of slashing a dinghy in the English Channel
What is a dinghy
A dinghy is a small open boat In this context it usually refers to the small inflatable boats used by migrants to cross the Channel
Where did this happen
The incident took place in the English Channel the body of water between England and France
When was he arrested
He was arrested following the incident
Why is this story important
It is important because it involves a political activist allegedly taking violent action against migrants and it raises questions about safety and political extremism
Intermediate Questions
What exactly is he accused of doing
Police suspect he used a sharp object to cut or puncture the boat which could cause it to sink or deflate
Was anyone hurt during the incident
The reports typically indicate that the boat was damaged but the specific status of the passengers depends on the official police statement
Why would someone slash a dinghy
The motivation is usually linked to antiimmigration views Farright activists sometimes take direct action to stop migrants from reaching the UK
What charges is he facing
He is likely facing charges related to criminal damage or endangering life at sea The specific charges are determined by the police and prosecutors
Is slashing a boat a serious crime
Yes If a boat is slashed while people are on it it can be considered a lifethreatening act leading to very serious charges
What happens to the migrants on the boat
If a boat is damaged it can capsize or sink Migrants are usually rescued by the coastguard or border force but they are put in immediate danger
Advanced Questions
What are the legal consequences for this type of crime
If convicted of endangering life at sea the consequences can include a lengthy prison sentence Criminal damage charges can
