British anti-migrant activist, Daniel Thomas, has been charged with criminal damage after footage appeared to show him slashing a migrant dinghy in the English Channel, in England, the United Kingdom.
The 37-year-old, also known as Danny Tommo among his supporters, was additionally charged with failing to disclose the PIN to his phone, Hampshire Police said.
Thomas has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court via videolink on Friday.
His arrest prompted a demonstration outside a police investigation centre in Basingstoke on Thursday evening, with several hundred people gathering because they believed Thomas was being held inside.
The demonstration began shortly before 18:30 BST and appeared to remain peaceful. Protesters chanted “free DT” and “we want our Danny back” before dispersing at about 21:45 BST after learning that Thomas had been charged.
Chris Derrick, Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor for the Crown Prosecution Service Wessex, said prosecutors had assessed the evidence before deciding to bring the case to court.
“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.”
He added, “We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendant are active and he has the right to a fair trial.”
Hampshire Police said Thomas was arrested after a boat carrying an emergency responder was damaged in the Channel on Tuesday.
The force said it had been examining footage that was livestreamed.
A French coastguard official was on board when Thomas appeared to slash at the vessel.
About 50 migrants who had travelled from Normandy had already been transferred to RNLI lifeboats before they were later moved to a UK Border Force vessel and taken to Dover for processing.
