Far-right activist Daniel Thomas has been arrested after he was filmed slashing the side of a dinghy in the English Channel with a rescue crew member still on board.
The 37-year-old, also known as Danny Tommo, uploaded footage on YouTube appearing to show him being arrested, with the officer telling him he is being detained on suspicion of criminal damage “recklessly endangering someone’s life”.
In earlier footage on YouTube, he appeared to shout “traitors” and use a knife to cut the side of the vessel that had been used by people smugglers to transport migrants in the Channel.
He could be seen slashing and stabbing the small boat after a member of a rescue crew had boarded to apparently take the vessel back to France.
Mr Thomas appears to have also filmed his own arrest following the incident in a video streamed on his channel last night.
The footage shows Mr Thomas getting out of a car which looked to be blocked in by other vehicles at a petrol station.
He can be heard asking police if he can use his phone to speak to his children.
One officer is recorded saying: “The information that I’ve been given… is that you’ve been involved in criminal damage recklessly endangering someone’s life.”
Mr Thomas then repeatedly said: “I understand.”
A Hampshire Police statement 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.
“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.”
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