Far-right activist ‘Danny Tommo’ arrested after Channel dinghy incident

Far-right activist Daniel Thomas has been arrested by police on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life after an incident in the English Channel.

Mr Thomas, known as Danny Tommo to his supporters, was arrested on Wednesday, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said.

The force previously said it was “conducting inquiries” into the incident, but said on Wednesday a 37-year-old man had been detained after a boat was damaged in the English Channel.

He remains in police custody.

A police spokesperson said: “A man has been arrested after a boat that had an emergency responder on board was damaged in the English Channel.

“We received a report of the incident on Tuesday evening (22 September).

“Last night (Wednesday 23 September), 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.

“He remains in custody at this time.”

Footage shared online appeared to show a man using a blade to damage a dinghy while a rescue worker could be seen onboard.

In the video, the man can be heard telling the rescue worker to “get off” the boat, before sailing away.

It comes after hundreds of anti-migrant protesters gathered in Gosport on Tuesday under the belief that a boat of asylum seekers, which had travelled from France, would be brought to shore.

Six people were arrested by officers during the evening, the force said.

Shannon Dodds, 32, of Gosport has been charged with two counts of assault by beating of an emergency worker. She has been remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Sally Pearson, 31, also of Gosport, has been charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence. She has also been remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Toby Matthews, 33, from Gosport, has been charged with common assault of an emergency worker. He was bailed to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates Court on 9 November.

A 19-year-old man and a 36-year-old man from Salisbury, who were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass, have been bailed with conditions until 22 December while inquiries continue.

A 67-year-old man from Gosport was handed a Fixed Penalty Notice for driving without due care and attention.

He was also arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and has been bailed with conditions until 22 December while inquiries continue, the force added.

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.

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.

A government spokesperson said: “The Border Security Command works around the clock to protect our border and will continue to detain, check and process every small boat arrival.”