Police investigate Channel dinghy damage footage

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is investigating footage that appears to show Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tommo, slashing an inflatable dinghy in the English Channel on September 22 while a rescue worker was aboard or nearby. Police have not announced a finding or said whether Thomas will face charges over the incident. The video shows Thomas approaching the dinghy after its passengers had been transferred to rescue boats and repeatedly cutting or stabbing its side with what appears to be a knife. A rescue worker was on the vessel as it was damaged and then moved to a larger emergency boat, according to descriptions of the footage. Thomas said during an online livestream that he wanted to prevent the dinghy from being used again by people smugglers. That was his stated rationale; police have not established the vessel’s intended future use. The dinghy had carried 51 people, who were collected by British rescue boats on September 22 and taken to Dover. They arrived early on September 23, after French authorities had shadowed the vessel and, according to reports, the occupants had refused assistance from the French side.