Hundreds of far-right protesters descend on Portsmouth after small boat arrival

Police officers at the scene near Eastney Beach, Portsmouth, where hundreds of protesters have gathered. Photograph: PA View image in fullscreen Police officers at the scene near Eastney Beach, Portsmouth, where hundreds of protesters have gathered. Photograph: PA Hundreds of far-right protesters descend on Portsmouth after small boat arrival Influencer livestreams event calling for men to travel to port to block coaches carrying asylum seekers from leaving Hundreds of far-right activists have descended on Portsmouth, where a small boat with 140 asylum seekers on board was intercepted heading towards the Portsmouth coast. The vessel’s arrival sparked a major response with a helicopter, an aeroplane and lifeboats sent to the scene. It is thought to be the first time such a large boat containing asylum seekers has been brought to Portsmouth and the first time a large group of anti-migrant protesters have tried to block newly arrived asylum seekers from being processed. The protesters blocked roads for hours and had vowed to stay all night to prevent the new arrivals from being taken to a processing centre. The demonstration ended about 3am, when police obtained a dispersal order and threatened arrests. It is the second major anti-migrant protest of the weekend. Many of those at Portsmouth were dressed in all black and wore face masks, similar to those who attended a rally that blocked roads in Dover on Saturday. One witness who was not involved in the protest said on Sunday night: “The atmosphere here is still very tense. The coaches carrying asylum seekers have still not left. About 25-30% of the far-right protesters are wearing balaclavas and many are wearing black. Two police cars had their windscreens smashed by protesters. At one point they broke through the police cordon.” View image in fullscreen Police at the site of a far-right protest in Portsmouth on Sunday night, following the arrival of a migrant boat. Photograph: SuppliedThe boat’s occupants were brought to shore in the maritime city and the Home Office’s plan was to take them to Manston, outside Ramsgate in Kent, where small boat arrivals are processed. However, videos circulating on social media showed large groups of protesters close to the coaches that were to be used, with some blocking vehicles carrying asylum seekers from leaving. Late on Sunday, Hampshire police had urged people to avoid the area, and said a dispersal order was in place. The government has condemned what it described as the “thuggish behaviour” of the protesters. “We condemn the intimidating and thuggish behaviour we are seeing tonight,” a government spokesperson said. “The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross a line into disorder.” In a livestream from the scene, Daniel Thomas, also known as Danny Tommo – a former bodyguard of the far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – encouraged viewers to travel to Portsmouth to join the protest.