Portsmouth Protests Erupt After 140 Migrants Rescued in English Channel

Hundreds of far-right protesters descended on Portsmouth over the weekend, blocking roads and disrupting services following the interception of a small boat carrying approximately 140 migrants in the English Channel. The group's arrival sparked a significant police response, including a dispersal order, as activists attempted to prevent asylum seekers from leaving coaches.

The government has condemned the "thuggish behaviour" witnessed during the protests, which marked the second major anti-migrant demonstration in the area within days. The interception itself involved a large-scale rescue operation, with a helicopter, aeroplane, and lifeboats deployed to assist the vessel as it approached the UK coast. This incident is noted as the first time such a large number of asylum seekers have arrived in a single small boat in Portsmouth, and the first time a large anti-migrant protest has directly targeted newly arrived asylum seekers.