Arrested activist who pierced asylum seekers' boat on the English Channel

O right-wing activist who followed two boats transporting asylum seekers from France to the United Kingdom and who filmed perforating one of them, where a rescuer was, was arrested on Wednesday.

“A man was arrested after a vessel carrying a rescuer suffered damage in the English Channel”It reads on the note issued by the Hampshire Police.

The authorities also write that the detention took place on Wednesday night, under suspicion of “destruction of ships or fixed platforms – or of endangering their safety – under Section 11 of the Aviation and Maritime Safety Act 1990”).”.

Daniel Thomas, better known as Danny Tommo, is 37 years old and has no permanent residence, according to the authorities. It is also suspected of causing criminal damage, “with the intention of putting lives at risk” and also of and “conduct that endangers ships, structures or individuals under Section 58 of the Merchant Navigation Act 1995.”.

Danny Tommo, who is still in police custody, has been in prison for two years after he was convicted of attempted kidnapping. After serving the prison sentence, he created the Patriot Platform anti-immigration movement.

The drilling took place on Tuesday, and in the images it is possible to see the boat where Danny Tommo was approaching an inflatable boat. With a knife, he started drilling the side of the ship. 

“This is England. It’s not France anymore,” he said, shouting, “Get off the boat! You have time to leave!” In the video, the extreme right-wing activist still seems to shout “traitors”.

According to The Guardian, asylum seekers were in precarious condition for about 36 hours at sea. Later, they were transferred to a Border Force vessel and taken to Dover.