Two British Far-Right Activists Arrested in France for Inciting Anti-Migrant Hate Near Calais

On January 25, 2026, French authorities arrested two British nationals near Calais for inciting hatred and participating in an unauthorized anti-migrant mobilization linked to far-right extremism. The men, aged 35 and 53, were detained after broadcasting live videos that promoted hatred against migrants. The arrests mark the first time French police have detained British far-right activists under charges of hate provocation and participation in a group preparing violence, as confirmed by François-Xavier Lauch, the Pas-de-Calais prefect.

The activists were involved in "Operation Overlord," an extremist initiative named after the 1944 Normandy landings, which aims to control French beaches to prevent migrant crossings of the Channel. Despite a ban imposed on the anti-migrant rally named "Overlord," which was extended until January 28 by the Nord and Pas-de-Calais prefectures, the activists continued their actions. Daniel Thomas, a British far-right figure and leader of a radical faction of the group "Raise the colours," organized the operation and urged followers to patrol beaches and oppose migrants’ illegal crossings, although his group distanced itself from his recent unauthorized actions.

According to Cécile Gressier, the prosecutor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, while the detained men are not accused of physical violence, they are suspected of assembling with intent to prepare violence, based on social media statements. These arrests follow a prior ban on ten other far-right activists from the UK since January 14 who were involved in violent acts against migrants.

The migrant crossings remain a tense issue, with 41,472 migrants reaching the UK in 2025, despite a slight 3% decrease in attempts. French authorities have also opened a probe into aggravated violence against migrants reportedly involving British activists. The arrests underline the growing concern over cross-national far-right extremism and its impact on migrant safety in northern France.

This development highlights the French government’s firm stance against hate speech and unauthorized extremist gatherings targeting vulnerable populations in the region.