Police Investigate Slashing of Migrant Dinghy
Police Investigate Slashing of Migrant Dinghy
Anonymous
Key Points
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Thomas’s livestream was watched by about 100,000 people, and showed him shouting “Let’s get rid of that boat” before repeatedly stabbing and slashing the inflatable vessel.
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The French coastguard said the migrants had spent more than 33 hours at sea in “precarious conditions” and had refused assistance because they were determined to reach the United Kingdom.
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Police said the six arrests at the Gosport protest involved offences including assaulting an emergency worker and aggravated trespass, providing more detail about the alleged conduct during the demonstrations.
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Thomas later claimed that disabling the dinghy was intended to prevent people-smugglers from using it again, saying: “That is one boat that won’t be used again.”
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The Border Force vessel carrying the rescued migrants was initially headed for Gosport but was turned back and redirected to Dover after protesters gathered at bottlenecks around the marina and police blocked roads.
Police are investigating far-right activist Danny "Tommo" Thomas after footage showed him repeatedly slashing an inflatable migrant dinghy with a blade while a rescue worker was aboard in the English Channel examinerlive. Thomas, leader of the Patriot Platform and previously convicted of kidnapping, livestreamed the incident to about 100,000 viewers, shouting "Let's get rid of that boat" as he stabbed the vessel. The dinghy had carried roughly 60 migrants who were transferred to rescue vessels and later landed in Dover after spending more than 30 hours at sea.
The incident occurred amid violent protests in Gosport, where demonstrators opposed the expected arrival of asylum seekers independent. Police made six arrests for offences including assaulting an emergency worker and aggravated trespass. The RNLI temporarily closed its Portsmouth base after crews faced harassment. Refugee charities and rescue officials condemned the attack as dangerous and reckless.
Livestreamed Attack on Rescue Operation
Thomas filmed himself slashing the dinghy and broadcast it live to roughly 100,000 people dailymail. The footage shows him repeatedly stabbing and slashing the inflatable vessel while shouting that the boat needed to be destroyed. He later justified the attack by claiming he wanted to prevent smugglers from reusing the dinghy, saying: "That is one boat that won't be used again."
A rescue worker was aboard the dinghy during the attack independent. The reckless nature of the incident alarmed officials and charities who said the slashing endangered lives and sabotaged legitimate rescue operations. The French coastguard reported the migrants had endured "precarious conditions" and spent more than 33 hours at sea before being rescued.
Violent Protests Force Ferry Diversion
The incident unfolded as angry demonstrators gathered in Gosport to block asylum seekers from arriving walesonline. Protesters gathered at bottlenecks around the marina and police blocked roads to manage the crowd. The Border Force vessel originally headed for Gosport was turned back and redirected to Dover instead.
Police arrested six people during the Gosport demonstrations for assaulting an emergency worker and aggravated trespass examinerlive. The unrest was so intense that the RNLI temporarily shut down its Portsmouth base after rescue crews faced ongoing harassment and threats from protesters.
Condemnation From Rescue and Rights Groups
Refugee charities and anti-racism organizations swiftly condemned Thomas's actions as dangerous and indefensible independent. Rescue officials said the attack undermined their ability to save lives and sent a chilling message to crews operating in the Channel. The incident sparked wider debate about how migrant boat arrivals are handled and the role of activists in rescue operations.
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