Clashes in Portsmouth: protesters break through cordon after migrant boat arrives

In Portsmouth, hundreds of protesters clashed with police after a boat carrying migrants arrived ashore. The Telegraph reports this.

According to the publication, about 500 demonstrators gathered at the yacht marina in Eastney, where the arrivals were accommodated. Police used pepper spray and shields to disperse, but protesters broke through the cordon and entered the marina area. The arriving ship, according to authorities, was carrying up to 140 migrants, making it one of the largest mass crossings of the English Channel.

“We want to stop them all from entering. We don’t need more people in Hampshire,” said one protester. Another protester added that “people don’t really like it.”

The British government condemned the actions of the protesters. “We condemn the intimidating and thuggish behavior we are seeing tonight. The right to peaceful protest is a fundamental principle of our democracy, but it must never degenerate into riots,” the spokesman said.

The protests in Portsmouth were a continuation of a similar action in Dover the day before. Reform UK party leader Nigel Farage linked the incident to insufficient government action and promised that his party would “bring the boats back.” The country's Ministry of Internal Affairs said that the number of crossings has decreased this year, but recognized the need to strengthen control.