Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas charged after dinghy slashed in Channel

Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas has been charged with criminal damage after he was seen in a video slashing at a dinghy in the English Channel.

The 37-year-old, known to his supporters as Danny Tommo, has also been charged with failing to disclose the PIN to his phone, Hampshire Police said.

He has been remanded in custody to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning.

Several hundred people, many wearing black, had gathered outside a police investigation centre in Basingstoke on Thursday evening believing Thomas was inside.

They arrived shortly before 18:30 BST and stood on the road outside the building and could be heard chanting “free DT”.

The crowd began to disperse at about 21:45 after protesters learned of the charges against Thomas.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary earlier said an arrest had been made after a “boat that had an emergency responder on board” was damaged in the Channel.

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