'Danny Tommo' is charged with criminal damage - as hundreds of black-clad supporters gather outside police station in protest at his arrest

- See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas has been charged with criminal damage after he was allegedly filmed slashing a dinghy in the English Channel. Meanwhile, hundreds of his black-clad followers tonight marched on the police station where he is understood to be locked up after his arrest on Wednesday. Thomas, 37, known as 'Danny Tommo', has been charged with one count of criminal damage and a further offence for allegedly failing to provide his phone password to police. This follows the circulation of a video that allegedly shows Thomas stabbing at an inflatable dinghy that had carried migrants while a rescuer was on board. Thomas had reportedly journeyed out to sea on Tuesday as it emerged that a boat containing 51 migrants was attempting to cross the English Channel. The group was later brought into Dover by the coast guard after 38 hours at sea. Hampshire Police said this evening that Thomas, of no fixed address, had been remanded in custody to appear at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court tomorrow. Chris Derrick from the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Daniel Thomas following an investigation by Hampshire Constabulary into an incident on Tuesday 22 September. 'Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings. 'We remind all concerned that proceedings against the defendant are active and he has the right to a fair trial.' Daniel Thomas, known as 'Danny Tommo' has been charged with criminal damage Around 250 followers of Danny Tommo gathered outside the Police Investigation Centre in Basingstoke on Thursday evening Unlike previous gatherings, most of the attendees were not wearing face masks Most of the crowd - understood to be from Patriot Platorm - arrived at the same time, around 6:30pm The crowd chanted in support of Thomas, who was arrested on Wednesday Far-right agitator Tommy Robinson and other figures from the movement called for 'patriots' to gather News of the charges broke while 250 members of Thomas's group - Patriot Platform - were massed outside the Police Investigation Centre in Basingstoke, Hampshire, where they arrived around 6.30pm. They were applauded by the 50 or so protesters who had already gathered on the road, while members of the group began chanting 'free DT' and 'Oh Danny Danny'. Several police vans were parked outside the station where officers filmed protesters, a few of whom were sporting balaclavas and carrying the St George and Union flags. As soon as the group arrived outside the police station, a spokesman urged the group to remove all face coverings - as a police drone kept watch overhead. Just after 8pm, the protesters paused for prayer relayed via a loudspeaker. The crowd then broke into a rendition of 'We want our Danny back', before some members aimed laser pens at the police station. The road was blocked by the crowd, though it parted briefly several times to allow traffic through. One motorist driving a white Chevrolet draped with a large Scotland flag beeped his horn in support and drew loud cheers. Protesters began to disperse peacefully at around 9:30pm. The group gathered in answer to calls from a masked member of Patriot Platform - the group behind anti-migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth - who urged followers to converge on Basingstoke Police Station in a social media post. Fellow right-wing firebrand Tommy Robinson also called on supporters to travel to the Hampshire town via his X account - though said he could not himself attend because he was up north. Thomas livestreamed part of his arrest on Wednesday night from a BP garage in an undisclosed location, and footage was later reposted showing him asking to 'say goodbye to my kids'. An officer then told Tommo to 'step out of the car' and explained the arrest, while a woman off-camera was heard saying: 'The cameras are on, let go of the phone.' After the video of Thomas emerged on Tuesday, hundreds of activists gathered in Gosport, where the migrants were initially expected to arrive. Coaches called in to transport the migrants were moved under police escort down the coast to Dover, where the group of 51 were eventually brought ashore at around half past midnight on Wednesday morning.