Police Reveal Why They Arrested Far-Right Activist Daniel Thomas After He Went Out to Sea and Used a Knife to Cut a Small Boat Carrying Migrants to the UK

Far-right activist Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, has been arrested after an incident involving a migrant dinghy in the English Channel.

The 37-year-old later uploaded footage to YouTube that appeared to show the moment police arrested him. In the video, an officer could be heard telling him that he was being arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and recklessly putting someone’s life in danger.

The arrest came after earlier footage appeared to show Thomas using a knife to cut and stab the side of a small dinghy in the Channel. The boat had reportedly been used to carry migrants across the sea.

At the time, a member of a rescue crew was still on the dinghy. The crew member appeared to have boarded the boat as part of an operation involving the vessel.

During the incident, Thomas could be heard shouting “traitors” before apparently using a knife on the side of the inflatable boat.

Thomas also appeared to film his own arrest later that night. The video showed him getting out of a car at a petrol station, where several other vehicles appeared to be blocking the area.

As police approached him, Thomas asked whether he would be allowed to use his phone to speak to his children.

One officer could be heard explaining the reason for his arrest, saying police had received information alleging that he had been involved in criminal damage while recklessly endangering someone’s life.

Thomas repeatedly replied: “I understand.”

Hampshire Police later confirmed that a 37-year-old man of no fixed address had been arrested following an incident involving a boat in the English Channel.

Police said an emergency responder was on board the vessel when it was damaged.

According to the force, the man was arrested on suspicion of several offences. These included 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.

Police said he remained in custody at the time the statement was issued. An arrest does not mean a person has been found guilty, and the allegations would need to be considered through the legal process.

The arrest followed a tense day in Gosport, where hundreds of activists had gathered after Thomas filmed himself going out to sea in an attempt to intercept a dinghy carrying dozens of migrants.

The gathering took place because protesters believed the migrants on the boat might be brought to the Hampshire coast.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said six people were arrested during the evening, while three people were later charged in connection with incidents around the marina.

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

Sally Pearson, 31, also from Gosport, was charged with assault by beating of an emergency worker and a racially aggravated public order offence. She was also remanded in custody ahead of an appearance at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court.

Absolutely shocking behaviour. Lock him up – he’s out of control. Danny Tommo slashes a migrant’s rubber dinghy just as rescuers complete their final checks on board during a rescue operation in the English Channel. pic.twitter.com/OktvXIs6mS— The Rev. Anton Mittens 🌹👮🎓 (@MittensOff) September 22, 2026

Toby Matthews, 33, from Gosport, was charged with common assault of an emergency worker. He was released on bail and was due to appear at Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court on November 9.

Some people at the protest wore black clothing and covered their faces. Chants of “send them back” could also be heard.

However, the migrant boat did not eventually arrive in Gosport. Instead, it reached Dover in Kent at around 12.30am on Wednesday.

There were reportedly 51 migrants on board. They had spent more than 30 hours at sea after reportedly refusing assistance from a French vessel.

Thomas later posted another video on X in which he described the arrival of the migrants as a “sad day for the country”. He also argued that the protests had achieved something because the migrants were not brought into Gosport.

The dinghy had reportedly left the Normandy coast on Monday and was followed by a French coastguard vessel.

French authorities said the people on board had refused assistance because they were determined to continue their journey towards the United Kingdom despite the dangers involved.

British rescue vessels were eventually sent to assist the passengers on Tuesday. The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the people rescued would be transferred to the relevant border authorities.

The incident came after another migrant dinghy travelled from the Cherbourg area earlier in the month and was met by lifeboats from the Isle of Wight. That incident also led to protests in Portsmouth and involved an unusually long small-boat journey across the Channel.

There were also reports of two separate migrant boats reaching the UK without being intercepted before landing on Monday and Tuesday.

The Home Office said 21 people who arrived in one of those incidents on Tuesday were detained.

According to the figures cited in the original report, 17,480 migrants had arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel in small boats so far in 2026.

The report also stated that the total number of arrivals at that point in 2026 was 46% lower than during the same period the previous year.

The incidents have once again brought attention to the dangers of Channel crossings, the work of rescue services and border authorities, and the continuing public debate over how the UK should respond to people attempting to reach the country in small boats.