Two British nationals suspected of being far-right activists who came to France to take part in a banned protest against migrants were arrested and taken into custody, local authorities told AFP on Monday.

The two men, who were broadcasting live videos from the French coast, were arrested near the northern town of Calais on Sunday evening, said Francois-Xavier Lauch, préfet of Pas-de-Calais.

They were placed in police custody for inciting hatred and participating in a group with the aim of preparing acts of violence, based on comments made on social media, said Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor Cecile Gressier.

These are the first arrests of British far-right activists in France on these grounds, she said, adding that they are not accused of violence against individuals.

Inciting racial hatred is a crime in France, with a maximum penalty of a €1,500 fine, rising to €3,000 for repeat offenders, while participating in a group with a view to preparing deliberate violence against persons or destruction or damage to property is punishable by one year’s imprisonment and a fine of €15,000

They were not among the ten far-right activists banned from French territory since mid-January by the interior ministry on charges of “violent actions” against migrants in northern France.

Aged 35 and 53, the men were broadcasting content likely to incite hatred live on a YouTube channel, according to police sources.

French authorities have stepped up actions against the British far-right activists who travel to France to make anti-migrant videos, after a string of complaints from local groups of intimidation and harassment of migrants and the charities who work with them.

The French Interior Ministry announced earlier in January that 10 activists linked to the ‘Raise the Colours’ movement have been banned from entering France, although it did not publish the names of the 10.

Local authorities in the Calais and Channel coast areas have also announced bans on several planned protests or demos by Brits, including a ban on an anti-migrant rally called “Overlord” launched by British far-right activist Daniel Thomas.

Thomas had called on social media for rallies on Saturday in the port of Dover in southeastern England and on the northern coast of France.

Despite the ban, Thomas published photos and videos on Saturday that he said were taken that day on French beaches.

He appears surrounded by a dozen other men, all dressed in dark clothing and waving British flags.

Thomas, who claims to be subject to a French travel ban himself, has not been arrested according to the préfecture.

According to the French authorities, Thomas leads a “very radical” branch of the Raise the Colours movement, which was formed following a split after the French entry ban.

The main Raise the Colours account on X said on Saturday it had nothing to do with the operation led by Thomas.

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