Danny Tommo, a 37-year-old YouTuber known for activism, was arrested and charged with criminal damage after he allegedly slashed a small boat used by people smugglers to transport migrants across the English Channel. The incident occurred at a petrol station where footage shows him being detained on suspicion of recklessly endangering someone’s life. Additionally, three other individuals were charged in connection with protests near the marina in Gosport, England, following the arrival of a migrant boat that docked in Dover instead.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 22, 37-year-old Daniel Thomas, also known as "Danny Tommo," was filmed using a knife to slash an empty migrant dinghy in the English Channel while a French rescue worker was still aboard. The incident occurred after the migrants had been picked up by the RNLI and were being escorted back towards France. Thomas, who has led anti-migrant protests under his group Patriot Platform, live-streamed the event on social media, shouting “You’re in English territory.” He was arrested at a petrol station in Hampshire on September 27 for criminal damage with intent to endanger life and endangering the safety of a vessel. The migrants originally traveled from Normandy and were taken to Dover for processing. Local authorities had previously blocked roads during protests organized by Thomas and his supporters, who wore black balaclavas, in attempts to prevent migrants from entering the UK. Thomas remains in custody as investigations continue. This incident highlights growing tensions over migration routes used by small-boat people smugglers along the English coast. Tommy Robinson, another far-right activist, shared footage of Thomas's arrest on social media, alleging it was an effort to "stop the invasion of our country." The exact location and circumstances of Thomas’s detention remain undisclosed in official statements from British authorities. Additionally, a dozen protesters were spotted near Dover, where local police had blocked off nearby roads to prevent further disruptions. Reports suggest that routes for small-boat migrants are shifting westward along the coast away from Kent. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary confirmed the arrest but did not release Thomas’s identity until formal charges were filed. His case is under active investigation by law enforcement agencies.
Written for “Danny Tommo Dinghy Slashing Arrest Ch…” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 19 other(s) covering the same event.
The 37-year-old, also known as Danny Tommo, uploaded footage on YouTube appearing to show him being arrested, with the officer telling him he is being detained on suspicion of criminal damage “recklessly endangering someone’s life”.
asserted
he → know → life
In earlier footage on YouTube, he appeared to shout “traitors” and use a knife to cut the side of the vessel that had been used by people smugglers to transport migrants in the Channel.
asserted
that → appear → Channel
He could be seen slashing and stabbing the small boat after a member of a rescue crew had boarded to apparently take the vessel back to France.
uncertain
member → see → France
Mr Thomas appears to have also filmed his own arrest following the incident in a video streamed on his channel last night.
asserted
Thomas → appear → channel
The footage shows Mr Thomas getting out of a car which looked to be blocked in by other vehicles at a petrol station.
asserted
which → show → station
He can be heard asking police if he can use his phone to speak to his children.
asserted
he → hear → children
One officer is recorded saying: “The information that I’ve been given… is that you’ve been involved in criminal damage recklessly endangering someone’s life.”
asserted
you → record → life
Mr Thomas then repeatedly said: “I understand.”
asserted
I → say → ?
“We received a report of the incident on Tuesday evening.
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We → receive → 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.
asserted
man → arrest → Act
“He remains in custody at this time.”
asserted
He → remain → time
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said three people have been charged after they gathered at the marina where they thought the boat’s passengers were due to arrive.
asserted
passengers → say → marina
Six people were arrested by officers during the evening, the force said.
asserted
force → arrest → evening
Shannon Dodds, 32, of Gosport, has been charged with two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker.
asserted
Dodds → charge → worker
She has been remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on Thursday.
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She → remand → Thursday
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Sally Pearson, 31, also of Gosport, has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence.
asserted
Pearson → read → worker
She has also been remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on Thursday.
asserted
She → remand → Thursday
Toby Matthews, 33, from Gosport, has been charged with common assault of an emergency worker.
asserted
Matthews → charge → worker
He was bailed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on November 9.
asserted
He → bail → November
Some of the protesters in Gosport wore black clothing and face coverings, and chanted “send them back”, wrongly assuming the boat would be guided to the Hampshire coast.
asserted
boat → wear → coast
In fact, it docked in Dover, Kent, at around 12.30am on Wednesday after 51 migrants on board reportedly refused help from a French ship and spent 33 hours at sea.
uncertain
migrants → dock → sea
In a video published on X on Wednesday morning, Mr Thomas branded the latest migrant arrivals a “sad day for the country” but argued that pressure from protesters “worked in some respects” because it stopped arrivals coming into Gosport.
asserted
it → publish → Gosport
The migrant dinghy left the Normandy coast on Monday and was shadowed by a French coastguard vessel, with authorities declaring the occupants had refused help because they were “determined to take all risks to reach the United Kingdom”.
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they → leave → Kingdom
Earlier this month, a dinghy was met by lifeboats from the Isle of Wight having set off from the Cherbourg area, triggering protests in Portsmouth.
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dinghy → meet → Portsmouth
It is thought to have made one of the longest journeys of any small boat in the Channel.
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It → think → Channel
Two other migrant boats have also managed to land undetected in the UK on Monday and Tuesday this week, the first time in a year that there have been unescorted landings and the only time since the start of 2023.
asserted
boats → manage → 2023
A Home Office spokesman said 21 people who landed on Tuesday had been detained.
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who → say → Tuesday
Some 17,480 migrants have arrived after crossing the Channel by boat so far this year, including 5,011 since Andy Burnham became Prime Minister.
asserted
Burnham → arrive → 5,011
The Aporia
