Police Probe Daniel Thomas After Knife Attack on 50-Migrant Channel Boat

3 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Sep 23

Hampshire and Isle of Wight police are investigating video that appears to show anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas slashing an inflatable boat in the English Channel on Sept. 22.
About 50 migrants had already been removed from the boat by two RNLI lifeboats after it entered the UK search-and-rescue area, and were taken to Dover for processing.
A live stream to more than 15,000 viewers showed Thomas approaching from a yellow speedboat, shouting that the vessel was now in "English territory" and making repeated stabbing motions as a French coastguard official was aboard.
Thomas said he wanted to stop the boat being taken back to France for reuse, though the report said there is no evidence migrant boats used for Channel crossings are returned for that purpose.
The footage drew condemnation from Stand Up To Racism and adds to scrutiny of Thomas, who has helped organize anti-migrant protests.