Danny Tommo charged with criminal damage after Channel boat slashing

WorldPolitics
25 Sep 2026 • 5:00 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Danny Tommo charged with criminal damage after Channel boat slashing

Far-right activist Daniel Thomas – known to his supporters as Danny Tommo – has been charged with criminal damage after he was filmed slashing a boat in the English Channel with an emergency responder on board.

The 37-year-old, of no fixed address, was also charged on Thursday evening with failing to disclose the Pin to his phone to police, under Section 53 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

He was remanded into custody to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Friday, Hampshire police said.

Protesters take part in a communal prayer outside the Basingstoke police investigation centre where they believed Danny Tommo was being held (PA Wire/PA Images) (PA Wire)

The force said: “The charges follow an allegation made to police that damage had been caused to a boat in the Channel whilst an emergency responder was on board.”

Several hundred people, largely wearing black, gathered outside a police investigation centre in Basingstoke on Thursday evening, believing that Thomas was inside.

They arrived together at just before 6.30pm and stood on the road outside the investigation centre and began chanting “free DT”.

Most were not masked, though some could be seen wearing face coverings.

Dozens of police officers could be seen monitoring the group outside the investigation centre as the protest continued for several hours.

The demonstration was peaceful, with the group moving out of the road to make way for approaching traffic.

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