Five British far-right activists arrested near Dunkirk carrying tear gas, face expulsion from France

French police arrested five British far-right activists on Thursday in Grande-Synthe, near the northern Channel port of Dunkirk, after they were found carrying four tear gas bombs while broadcasting live footage of themselves intimidating migrants.

The regional prefecture said the five, described as members of an "ultra-right movement," had been travelling along the north coast of France in a minibus they called the Battle Bus. Authorities placed them in police custody and charged them with taking part in a group formed with a view to preparing violence against persons and transporting category D weapons without legitimate reason. The five are expected to be expelled from France.

The prefecture said the images they broadcast were "intended to illustrate acts of intimidation" against migrants attempting to reach the UK.

The arrests follow a pattern of British far-right activity on the French coast. In January, two Britons suspected of involvement in a banned anti-migrant action in Calais were arrested and deported. Ten other British far-right activists were banned from French territory in mid-January after being accused of violence against migrants in previous months.

On Saturday, the UK government announced that almost 1,000 migrants crossed to Britain in two days as calmer weather improved conditions in the Channel.