Police examining video of anti-migrant activist slashing boat with knife

Police are examining a video that appears to show anti‑migrant activist Danny Tommo slashing an inflatable boat with a knife in the English Channel. The vessel had been carrying about 50 migrants who launched from a point in Normandy. They were rescued by two RNLI lifeboats after entering the UK search and rescue area and taken to Dover for processing. Daniel Thomas, known to his supporters as Danny Tommo, filmed the operation from a yellow speedboat while providing commentary to a live‑stream audience of more than 15,000 people. The footage shows him sailing up to the boat, drawing a small weapon and beginning to slash at the side of the migrant craft. There were no migrants on board, but a French official from the coastguard vessel Abeille Liberté was present. As the Frenchman boarded the empty migrant craft mid‑Channel, Danny Tommo shouted, "Right, you are connected English territory. This is England. This is not France immoderate more." He then made a bid of stabbing and slashing movements against the rubber side of the large inflatable boat. "Get disconnected - get off," helium shouted. "You've got clip to get disconnected the boat." It was not clear from the live stream whether he caused any damage to the boat. "We conscionable wanted to marque definite that vessel was not taken backmost to France and utilized again," Tommo told his followers. Posting on X, the campaign group Stand Up To Racism described the footage as "disgusting".