French authorities have issued a sweeping ban on British far-right activists who plan to participate in a "stop the boats" protest against asylum seekers hoping to cross the English Channel to the UK. The move, announced by the prefecture of the Nord and Pas-de-Calais regions, aims to prevent British far-right activists involved in the anti-immigrant group Operation Overlord from gathering in France this weekend.
The ban, which comes into effect at 11pm on Friday evening and continues until Monday morning, prohibits the presence and gathering of self-proclaimed members of the groups in several districts, including Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Montreuil-sur-Mer, and Lille. The French government says it is aimed at preserving public order in the area.
The ban targets British nationals associated with Operation Overlord, a group that has been involved in placing England flags and union jacks on lamp-posts. However, one of its associates, Daniel Thomas, who has since parted ways with the group, continues to run his own version of the operation, dubbed "Operation Overlord".
Thomas posted on social media that some details about his group's plans would remain secret until the last moment, citing concerns for public safety and the achievement of their goals. However, Lachlan Macrae of Calais Food Collective, an NGO working to support asylum seekers in northern France, says the French government has finally acknowledged the threat posed by these far-right activists.
"We welcome the decision by the French government to ban the actions of those involved with 'Operation Overlord'," Macrae said. "These people are far-right racist agitators who are intent on coming out to France to harass displaced people and threaten violence."
The ban, which comes into effect at 11pm on Friday evening and continues until Monday morning, prohibits the presence and gathering of self-proclaimed members of the groups in several districts, including Dunkirk, Calais, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Montreuil-sur-Mer, and Lille. The French government says it is aimed at preserving public order in the area.
The ban targets British nationals associated with Operation Overlord, a group that has been involved in placing England flags and union jacks on lamp-posts. However, one of its associates, Daniel Thomas, who has since parted ways with the group, continues to run his own version of the operation, dubbed "Operation Overlord".
Thomas posted on social media that some details about his group's plans would remain secret until the last moment, citing concerns for public safety and the achievement of their goals. However, Lachlan Macrae of Calais Food Collective, an NGO working to support asylum seekers in northern France, says the French government has finally acknowledged the threat posed by these far-right activists.
"We welcome the decision by the French government to ban the actions of those involved with 'Operation Overlord'," Macrae said. "These people are far-right racist agitators who are intent on coming out to France to harass displaced people and threaten violence."