Members of a group associated with extreme right-wing beliefs, previously exposed by a media outlet for engaging in vigilante activities against migrants, have been prohibited from entering France. A recent investigation uncovered the group’s leader’s involvement in sabotaging efforts, alongside a close associate of far-right figure Tommy Robinson, who was imprisoned for an attempted kidnapping. The French government has imposed a ban on ten individuals linked to the group known as “Raise the Colours,” preventing them from visiting or residing in the country.
Ryan Bridge and Daniel Thomas from the group had openly shared their actions against migrants attempting to cross the English Channel on social media platforms. Thomas, identified as a key figure within the group and a close aide to Robinson, had previously served a two-year jail term for an unsuccessful kidnap plot.
Although not explicitly named by French authorities, the Interior Ministry categorized the group’s activists as “extreme right-wing,” citing concerns about potential threats to public order posed by their presence in France. The group’s members reportedly made frequent trips to France to target and disable small boats used by migrants on the channel route. Additionally, they engaged in propaganda activities along the northern French coastline, aiming to recruit support from the British public to disrupt the migration flow.
While the French government did not disclose the identities of the ten British nationals, it identified them as active participants in the group’s activities on French soil. In response to the ban, “Raise the Colours” acknowledged the statements but claimed no official notification had been received regarding any administrative actions taken against them.
The group clarified that the French authorities’ statements likely pertained to individual sanctions rather than a collective ban on the organization. They emphasized their commitment to peaceful and lawful conduct, disavowing any endorsement of violence or illegal behavior.
In previous incidents, Bridge and Thomas documented their actions of damaging migrant boats on the French coast, proudly displaying their exploits on social media. The group, under the moniker “Operation Overlord,” boasted about destroying a migrant vessel, drawing parallels to historical military campaigns.
Thomas, using the alias Danny Tommo, had a prior criminal record for an attempted kidnapping in 2016. Meanwhile, “Raise the Colours” presents itself as a grassroots movement advocating unity and patriotism, emphasizing the display of national pride through flag-bearing activities across communities.
The issue of cross-Channel migration has sparked tensions between the UK and France, with a significant influx of individuals crossing in small boats. Despite a rise in crossings compared to previous years, the total remains below the peak levels recorded in 2022.