Members of a radical right-wing organization, previously exposed by the Mirror for their vigilante actions against migrants, have been prohibited from entering France. The investigation uncovered the group’s flag campaign leader’s subversive activities, including collaboration with a far-right associate of Tommy Robinson who was imprisoned for a failed kidnapping attempt. France has now enforced a ban on ten individuals associated with “Raise the Colours,” preventing them from traveling to or residing in the country.
Among the group’s members, Ryan Bridge and Daniel Thomas openly glorified their actions against migrant boat crossings on social media. Thomas, known as a close associate of Robinson, had previously served a two-year jail term for an unsuccessful kidnapping plot. While the French authorities did not disclose their identities, a statement from the Interior Ministry labeled the group’s members as “extreme right-wing,” citing their activities as a potential threat to public order in France.
The Interior Ministry highlighted that the activists from the group frequently traveled to France to locate and disable small boats used for Channel crossings by migrants. Additionally, the group engaged in propaganda efforts along the northern French coastline, targeting the British public to bolster their movement and halt the migration flow. Although the French government did not name the ten British nationals in question, it specified them as active participants in actions on French soil.
Responding to the French Ministry’s statements, Raise the Colours acknowledged awareness but stated that no official notification had been received regarding any administrative measures. The group clarified that it believed the statements referred to specific individuals rather than the entire organization. Emphasizing a commitment to peaceful and lawful activities, the group disavowed violence and unlawful behavior.
In a separate incident, Bridge and Thomas boasted about damaging a boat on the French coast in November, with footage showcasing the act. Subsequently, they claimed to have destroyed another migrant boat in a social media post, proudly declaring their mission to halt the boat crossings. The group shared images of the two individuals holding flags next to a damaged boat and posted a video on Facebook featuring them alongside the vessel, set to patriotic music.
Termed as “Operation Overlord” in reference to a World War Two campaign, the group celebrated the destruction of a migrant boat in their online posts. Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo, had previously received a two-year sentence for a kidnapping attempt in 2016. Raise the Colours describes itself as a grassroots movement promoting unity and patriotism, emphasizing its expansion through individuals proudly displaying flags in various neighborhoods.
The issue of cross-Channel migration has strained relations between Britain and France in recent times. Home Office data revealed that while over 41,000 individuals crossed the Channel to the UK via small boats in the previous year, the numbers were lower than the record set in 2022 when more than 45,000 migrants made the perilous journey.