Five armed Brits who were driving the Channel coast in a 'battle bus' and 'planning attacks on migrants in France' are fined £2,500 and barred from parts of the country

Published: 14:35 EDT, 1 November 2026 | Updated: 14:35 EDT, 1 November 2026 Five armed Britons who were touring the Channel coast in a 'battle bus' and allegedly planning attacks on migrants in France have been fined £2,500 and barred from parts of the country. The far-Right activists, aged between 30 and 46, were also ordered to pay £418 each to migrant charities.They had been driving across the Channel coast in a minibus with reinforced windows nicknamed the 'battle bus'. They were arrested at Grande-Synthe, near Dunkirk, on Thursday and had their weapons confiscated. The armed 'ultra-Right' activists were found with tear gas and pepper-spray canisters and a baton, according to prosecutors, which are illegal to carry under French law.They had allegedly livestreamed themselves intimidating migrants who were trying to reach Britain on small boats. The far-Right activists, aged between 30 and 46, were also ordered to pay £418 each to migrant charities. Pictured: One of the Britons is arrested by French police A group of British nationals are seen being arrested during a French police operation near a Decathlon store in Dunkirk, northern FranceDespite being issued fines, the Britons could have faced prison time if they were charged and convicted of 'taking part in a group formed to prepare violence against people' and 'transporting classified weapons without a legitimate reason', The Times reports. They could also have received fines of €15,000 (£12,500). But they could still face custodial sentences as the weapons offences could be punished by up to two years in jail – on top of a €30,000 (£25,000) fine if the alleged crimes were committed by two or more people acting together. AFP reports that the Britons were arrested while broadcasting live footage online, according to the local prefecture, and were carrying four tear gas bombs.They were held for 'taking part in a group formed to prepare violence against people' and for carrying classified weapons without a legitimate reason, the statement added.After being detained they were held in custody while arrangements were made for their expulsion from France.On Sunday, they were expelled and banned from entering the region for six months, French authorities said.An aid group had accused them of violence against undocumented migrants, but investigations failed to establish evidence of violent offences, prosecutor Charlotte Huet said in a statement Sunday.A judge banned them from the Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments for six months and ordered them to pay the fines. Pictured: The hand-cuffed activists are led into a French police van at the side of the road The armed 'ultra-Right' activists were found with tear gas and pepper-spray canisters and a baton, according to prosecutors'All five were expelled from French territory on Sunday,' an official in the Hauts-de-France and Nord regional prefecture told AFP.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 British far-Right activists had been banned from French territory in mid-January after being accused of violence in previous months against migrants on the French coast.Sometimes violent anti-migrant protests have occurred across the Channel in England, as would-be asylum-seekers continue to attempt to make the perilous crossing from France.The issue of migrants has become a contentious topic in both countries, in Britain leading to a surge in support for the far-Right, anti-migrant Reform UK party.