Police examining video of anti-migrant activist slashing boat with knife
Daniel Thomas, known to his supporters as Danny Tommo, livestreamed a video of the alleged incident.
Police are investigating a video that appears to show anti-migrant activist Danny Tommo, also known as Danny Thomas, slashing at an inflatable boat with a knife in the English Channel. The boat was carrying around 50 migrants who had set off from a beach in Normandy. Once they reached the UK search and rescue area, the migrants were picked up by two RNLI lifeboats and taken to Dover for processing.
Tommo was filming the transfer from a yellow speedboat while providing commentary to a live stream audience of over 15,000 viewers. During the video, Tommo can be seen sailing up to the empty boat, taking out a small knife, and slashing at its side. Despite the migrants not being present on the boat, a French official from the coastguard vessel Abeille Liberté was onboard.
As the Frenchman boarded the empty migrant boat, Tommo shouted, "Right, you are on English territory. This is England. This is not France any more." He then proceeded to make a series of stabbing and slashing movements against the rubber side of the inflatable boat. It is unclear from the live stream if Tommo caused any damage to the boat.
The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary stated that they are aware of the video circulating online and are conducting inquiries into the matter. Campaign group Stand Up To Racism described the footage as "disgusting."
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