Thomas, 37, who posts online as "Danny Tommo," was arrested on Wednesday night by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary. Police said he was held on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to endanger life and endangering the safety of a vessel. The Guardian reported the arrest was made under Section 11 of the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990, on suspicion of destroying ships or fixed platforms or endangering their safety — a slightly different legal description than the one given by the constabulary's earlier statement. He remained in custody on Thursday. British police do not name suspects until they are charged.
The arrest came two days after Thomas filmed himself using a knife to pierce the inflatable exterior of a dinghy in the middle of the Channel. The boat was empty of migrants, but at least one rescue service member was aboard at the time. In the video, Thomas is heard yelling "you're in English territory" and "no more migrants in our country" before telling the rescuers to "get off the boat."
Thomas is a longtime associate of far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson. The incident has drawn attention to the increasingly heated debate over small-boat migration in Britain; ABC reported that more than 41,000 migrants crossed the Channel between France and Britain last year.