Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after Channel dinghy slashing

Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas, known to his supporters as Danny Tommo, was arrested on Wednesday evening after a migrant dinghy was damaged in the English Channel while a rescue worker was still on board, police said.

The 37-year-old was detained at a petrol station on Wednesday night and remains in custody, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said on Thursday.

“We received a report of the incident on Tuesday evening,” the force said in a statement. “Last night, 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.”

Thomas filmed and released footage of his own arrest, The Times reported. In the clip an officer tells him he is being detained on suspicion of criminal damage and says: “At this point in time, you are under arrest, you do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence.” Thomas replies: “I understand.”

The arrest follows Tuesday’s incident in which Thomas filmed himself taking a knife to an empty migrant dinghy while a rescue worker was on board, shouting “traitors” at the crew.