Five British anti-migrant activists arrested in north of France

The five people, from an "ultra-right movement" were apprehended on Thursday in Grande-Synthe near Dunkirk, the regional prefecture said in a statement on Saturday.

The suspects were in possession of four tear gas bombs when arrested.

They had been travelling along the north coast of France in a minibus they had named the Battle Bus while broadcasting live on social media "images intended to illustrate acts of intimidation" against migrants trying to reach the UK, said the prefecture.

Authorities said they were placed in police custody and have been accused of "taking part in a group formed with a view to preparing violence against persons and for transporting category D weapons without legitimate reason," the statement added.

The five are expected to be expelled from France.

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British activists already banned

In January, two Britons suspected of having come to France to take part in a banned anti-migrant action in the Channel port of Calais were arrested and deported.

Ten other far-right activists from Britain were banned from French territory in mid-January after being accused of violence in previous months against migrants on the French coast.

"The state does not tolerate such actions conducive to hatred and violence from anyone," the prefecture said in its statement, published on X.

Sometimes violent anti-migrant protests have occurred in England, as would-be asylum-seekers continue to try and cross the English Channel in small boats to reach the UK from France. 

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On Saturday, the UK government announced almost 1,000 migrants made the crossing to the UK in two days, as better weather led to calmer conditions.

The issue of immigration has become a contentious topic in both Britain and France and has fuelled anti-migrant discourse. 

Britain has seen a surge in support for the far-right, anti-migrant Reform UK party, while support for France's far-right National Rally (RN) is also growing. Recent surveys put Marine Le Pen, the party's candidate in next year's presidential election, ahead in the polls.

(with newswires)