Police arrest far-right activist Daniel Thomas after dinghy slashed in Channel

Daniel Thomas, the far-right agitator and anti-migrant activist, has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life, two days after he filmed himself slashing the side of a dinghy in the middle of the Channel while a rescuer was on board.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight constabulary issued a statement saying a 37-year-old man, of no fixed abode, had been arrested on Wednesday night “on suspicion of destroying ships or fixed platforms or endangering their safety under section 11 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990”.

The police said Thomas was suspected of committing “criminal damage, criminal damage with intent to endanger life, and conduct endangering ships, structures or individuals under section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995”.

Thomas appears to have filmed himself being arrested on Wednesday night. A video was uploaded on to his YouTube platform showing the arrest, apparently at a garage. An officer told him he had been “involved in criminal damage that has recklessly endangered someone’s life”.

Thomas, who prefers to go by the name Danny Tommo, said: “I understand. I knew this was coming.”

This summer Thomas has gathered dozens of nationalist protest groups under the umbrella movement Patriot Platform.

He was behind anti-immigration marches by masked men this month in Dover and Portsmouth.