Far-right anti-migrant boat slashers banned from France

French authorities have issued territorial bans on ten British far-right activists, barring them from entering or remaining in France after months of anti-migrant actions along the Channel coast. The French Interior Ministry said the individuals, tied to the far-right ‘Raise the Colours’, had been involved in activities on French soil that risked serious disturbance to…

Operation Overlord 2 – Ryan Bridge and Danny Tommo

French authorities have issued territorial bans on ten British far-right activists, barring them from entering or remaining in France after months of anti-migrant actions along the Channel coast.

The French Interior Ministry said the individuals, tied to the far-right ‘Raise the Colours’, had been involved in activities on French soil that risked serious disturbance to public order.

Escalation

This included searching for and destroying small boats used by migrants crossing to the UK and disseminating provocative propaganda along the northern coastline.

These activities had marked an escalation in cross-border far-right vigilantism, encouraged by social media posts and videos of activists harassing asylum seekers and interfering with attempts by migrants and asylum seekers to cross the Channel.

Danny Tommo and Ryan Bridge destroy boat in France
Danny Tommo and Ryan Bridge film themselves destroying a migrant boat in France

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez emphasised that violent or hate-inciting actions have no place on French territory, insisting that France will not hesitate to take actions against foreign extremists.

Nuñez said in a post on X that France’s “rule of law is non-negotiable; actions that are violent in nature or incite hatred have no place on our territory”.

Slashing boats

In France, Raise the Colours has been operating as ‘Operation Overlord 2’ run by Tommy Robinson’s close mate Danny Tommo and Birmingham-based Ryan Bridge.

They have posted videos of themselves searching for inflatable boats hidden on French beaches and slashing them to render them unusable.

Danny Tommo secretly filmed in a Bromsgrove pub, planning his boat slashing expeditions to France

In November the pair were secretly photographed in a pub in Bromsgrove, as they discussed organising shifts and rotas of men to travel to France. They talked of raising money so that they could film events with a drone camera.

In November, we reported how the pair were forced into a humiliating running retreat after encountering resistance from refugee communities and local activists.

You can watch that here:

Danny Tommo and Ryan Bridge do a runner in France

The French have not identified the individuals who will be covered by the banning order but it is inconceivable that Tommo and Bridge will not be amongst them.

As we have reported before, they are a deeply unpleasant pair. Tommo, real name Daniel Thomas, sports a conviction for kidnap at knifepoint after a drugs deal went wrong. He is a close friend of Tommy Robinson with whom he went on holiday to Tenerife last year.

Inciting riots

He leapt to notoriety when he posted a video online inciting riots and urging that “Every city must go up” after the Southport murders in 2024.

Bridge is wanted in Spain for a multi-million pound holiday sickness compensation scam. With Elliott Stanley he launched Operation Raise the Colours in the Midlands.


Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

Nick Davies

Nick Davies

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Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak

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Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary

Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

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Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

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