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Evening Standard
· collected 2026-09-25 · by Press Association Reporters
Danny Tommo, a far-right activist also known as Daniel Thomas, has been charged with criminal damage for slashing a boat in the English Channel that had an emergency responder aboard. The incident occurred on September 22, and Thomas was additionally charged with failing to disclose his phone's Pin to police under Section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. Protests supporting Thomas took place outside a Basingstoke investigation center where he was held, with demonstrators chanting "free DT." The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed plans to prosecute him based on evidence provided by Hampshire Constabulary and public interest considerations.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-25,
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.
Far-right activist Daniel Thomas – known to his supporters as Danny Tommo – has been charged with criminal damage after he was filmed slashing a boat in the English Channel with an emergency responder on board.
asserted
he → know → board
The 37-year-old, of no fixed address, was also charged on Thursday evening with failing to disclose the Pin to his phone to police, under Section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.
asserted
old → charge → Act
The force said: “The charges follow an allegation made to police that damage had been caused to a boat in the Channel whilst an emergency responder was on board.”
asserted
responder → say → board
Several hundred people, largely wearing black, gathered outside a police investigation centre in Basingstoke on Thursday evening, believing that Thomas was inside.
asserted
Thomas → wear → evening
They arrived together at just before 6.30pm and stood on the road outside the investigation centre and began chanting “free DT”.
asserted
They → arrive → DT
Most were not masked, though some could be seen wearing face coverings.
uncertain
some → mask → coverings
Dozens of police officers could be seen monitoring the group outside the investigation centre as the protest continued for several hours.
uncertain
protest → see → hours
The demonstration was peaceful, with the group moving out of the road to make way for approaching traffic.
asserted
group → move → traffic
On Thursday evening, Chris Derrick from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Daniel Thomas following an investigation by Hampshire Constabulary into an incident on Tuesday September 22.
asserted
Service → say → Tuesday
“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.
asserted
it → work → proceedings
“We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendant are active and he has the right to a fair trial.”
asserted
he → remind → trial
The incident on Tuesday came as hundreds of activists gathered in Gosport after Thomas filmed himself going out to sea to try to intercept a dinghy carrying dozens of migrants.
asserted
himself → come → migrants
Read More
Footage was posted on YouTube, and Thomas appears to have also filmed his own arrest in a video streamed on his channel.
asserted
Thomas → read → channel
The police said six people were arrested during the evening, as the protesters wrongly assumed the boat would be guided to the Hampshire coast.
asserted
boat → say → 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
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.
asserted
dinghy → meet → Portsmouth
It is thought to have made one of the longest journeys of any small boat in the Channel.
asserted
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.
asserted
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
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