2 hrs ago
Far-Right Activist Slashes Migrant Dinghy While Rescuer Remains Onboard
A far-right activist named Daniel Thomas was filmed cutting a small inflatable boat with a knife.
The boat had been used by people seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.
A rescue worker was still on the boat when Thomas damaged it.
The video showed air escaping, but it did not show what happened to the worker afterward.
Thomas streamed the incident online to many viewers.
At the same time, protesters gathered in Gosport and shouted for migrants to be sent back.
Police blocked roads around the protest.
The migrants were later taken to Dover, where officials said they would be checked and processed.
Daniel Thomas was filmed stabbing an abandoned migrant dinghy while a rescue worker stood aboard.
The incident occurred in the English Channel and was livestreamed to about 100,000 viewers.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in Gosport after reports of a migrant boat arrival.
The migrants were transferred from Hampshire to Dover by a Border Force boat.
Officials defended border processing, while a local commissioner warned of unsustainable pressure on police.
- Who
- Daniel Thomas, leader of Patriot Platform; a rescue worker; asylum seekers; protesters; police and Border Force officials.
- What
- Thomas slashed an inflatable migrant dinghy with a knife while a rescue worker was aboard, amid protests over small-boat crossings.
- Where
- The dinghy was in the English Channel; protests took place in Gosport and Dover.
- When
- The incident and protests occurred on Tuesday and early Wednesday, according to the report.
- Why
- Thomas and protesters opposed migrant crossings, while officials said the arrivals needed to be detained, checked and processed.
Anti-Immigration Activists
Officials and Border Authorities
Small-boat arrivals
Anti-Immigration Activists
Thomas and protesters opposed migrants arriving in the United Kingdom and called for them to be sent back.
Officials and Border Authorities
The government said Border Security Command would continue handling every small-boat arrival through detention, checks and processing.
Local capacity and policing
Anti-Immigration Activists
Protesters gathered near the reported arrival site and challenged the government’s approach to migrant crossings.
Officials and Border Authorities
Hampshire and Isle of Wight police and crime commissioner Donna Jones said Hampshire was not prepared to process such arrivals and that the burden on police was unsustainable.
Key facts
- Activist
- Daniel Thomas, leader of Patriot Platform
- Incident
- An inflatable dinghy was stabbed and slashed with a knife
- Rescue worker
- A worker in orange high-visibility clothing and a yellow helmet was aboard when the boat was damaged
- Livestream audience
- About 100,000 viewers
- Protest locations
- Gosport and Dover
- Migrant transfer
- Asylum seekers were taken from Hampshire to Dover by a Border Force boat
- Official response
- The government said all small-boat arrivals would be detained, checked and processed
Quotes
Daniel Thomas
Leader of the far-right Patriot Platform filmed approaching the dinghy
“This is England. This is not France any more”
NDTV
“Let's get rid of that boat”
NDTV
A government spokesperson
UK government representative commenting on small-boat arrivals
“The Border Security Command works around the clock to protect our border and will continue to detain, check and process every small boat arrival.”
NDTV
Sources
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