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Man Arrested After Police Van Targeted at Anti-Migrant Protest in Portsmouth
Confirmed
In Short: A man was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after a police van was targeted during an anti-migrant protest in Portsmouth.
Protesters against migrants gathered in Portsmouth, with some holding Union flags and wearing Portsmouth Patriot branded clothing, while anti-racism protesters followed them as they left the scene.
A large police presence was in place, and official vehicles were damaged during the protest, with a few police officers injured.
Daniel Thomas, an activist who organised recent protests, stated that his group Patriot Platform would not attend the planned Portsmouth demonstration.
Police warned against incitement of fear or violence and warned that protesters wearing face coverings could be arrested under the Crime and Policing Act.
What's confirmed
- A line of police formed to keep anti-racism protesters from anti-immigration protesters who followed them as they were leaving the scene.
- Anti-migrant protesters held Union flags while some wearing Portsmouth Patriot branded clothing gathered outside All Saints Church on Commercial Road.
What's still developing
- He said the protest was against “illegal men invading the shores” and said it was not about giving “f*** the police”.
- There was a large police presence in Portsmouth city centre where demonstrators assembled to march on Saturday.
- RNLI volunteers and staff have faced abuse from anti-migrant protesters over its rescue work bringing some small boat migrants ashore.
- The anti-immigration protest marched to Guildhall Square and the counter-protest followed behind on the same route.
- A man on a mobility scooter wearing a plastic face mask was stopped by police at the square.
- One video posted to social media showed a man wearing a burqa, in an apparent attempt to flout the mask ban, being spoken to by police One video posted to social media showed a man wearing a burqa, in an apparent attempt to flout the mask ban, being spoken to by police A man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damaged after a police van was targeted at an anti-immigration protest in Portsmouth.
- Police said the powers were aimed at preventing violence and disorder following protests in the city over the past week involving masked demonstrators.
- Earlier, a member of the Facebook group The Patriots of Great Britain, urged anti-migrant protesters to wear “hats, shades and war paint” instead of face coverings in an apparent attempt to flout the ban.