Anti-immigration protesters in Portsmouth held another gathering outside a hotel they claimed was being used to accommodate asylum seekers — but the people inside turned out to be Pakistan’s under-19 cricket squad.
As many as 50 demonstrators assembled outside the four-star Marriott hotel in Cosham on Monday night after wrongly believing that “four coach loads” of migrants had arrived there, following the landing of asylum seekers in the city only days earlier.
The confusion came after around 120 migrants were brought ashore on Sunday evening, prompting an estimated 500 people to protest outside Eastney Landing in Portsmouth.
But the group outside the hotel was later forced into an awkward climbdown when staff explained that the guests were not migrants, but members of a visiting cricket delegation from Pakistan.
Those travelling by coach were understood to be players from Pakistan’s under-19 cricket team, along with support personnel, who are in the UK for a tour that includes matches against England’s under-19 side.
Sunday night’s Portsmouth protest had already drawn concern after police said several officers were injured, while some of those present were described as black-clad men wearing balaclavas.
Councillor George Madgwick, Reform UK’s group leader on Hampshire County Council, acknowledged in a social media post that protesters outside the hotel had believed a coach there was carrying migrants.
Protesters gathered outside the Portsmouth Marriott after wrongly identifying a visiting Pakistan cricket team as migrants
The Pakistan under-19s team pictured on the fourth and final day of their Test against England last week
The Pakistani Under-19s cricket team have been based at the Marriott while playing in Arundel, West Sussex, over the last few days.
But in an online post, local Chris Lawrence wrongly stated that he saw ‘Four coachloads of migrants being loaded into the Marriott Hotel near Port Solent.’
In his own post, Mr Madgwick said: ‘There were reports that possible migrants were staying in the Marriott hotel. I can confirm that is NOT the case. Please don’t attend the hotel.
‘A number of concerned local residents spotted what they believed to be migrants going into the Marriott hotel. A number of you messaged me and asked me to come down. I spoke to the hotel and they agreed to meet me.
‘Within an hour I was in attendance. Spoke to the crowd forming, who were all respectful and calm – but concerned. The man leading the crowd was very clear they must remain on public land, stay calm, no drinking, no abuse.
‘I visited the manager and the hotel explained it was a Pakistani cricket team staying. The cricket team coach came to speak to me personally and I saw proof (hotel were happy to provide).
‘I then went to speak to the crowd gathering of 40/50 people and confirmed with them and assured them that it was a cricket team.’
He said the crowd ‘respectfully accepted that’ and dispersed within five minutes.
Mr Madgwick added: ‘I’m glad I could do my bit to help the situation and stop tensions rising. But the government need to understand why things like this happen.
Hundreds of protestors gathered at Eastney on Sunday and attempted to block coaches that were due to take the arriving migrants for processing
‘It’s not because the protestors and crowds are bad people – quite the opposite. It’s because they care deeply about their community and area and see it crumbling before their eyes.
‘Local residents just want to protect the city they love in the best way they know how.
‘If the government don’t get a grip on this boat crisis we will see this more and more.’
The England and Wales Cricket Board has since contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board to check on the wellbeing of those involved, and are reviewing security arrangements for the remainder of the Under-19s’ tour.
The incident came on the eve of the third test match between England and Pakistan which began at Edgbaston, Birmingham, this morning.
Two police vehicles remained stationed on Tuesday outside the RNLI’s Eastney base after reports emerged that the charity was being targeted for its involvement in the rescue of the 120 migrants.
The RNLI said some of its volunteers have been on the receiving end of physical and online abuse. Chief executive Peter Sparkes slammed those who ‘hide behind a balaclava or a keyboard’ whose actions were ‘wholly unacceptable’.
He said: ‘Recent events have generated deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding about the RNLI – our purpose, our tasking, and particularly our lifesaving work in the Channel. Sadly, as a result, some of our volunteers and staff have been the subject of online and, in the worst cases, physical abuse.’
It has been revealed that prior to arrival at Eastney Landing, the RNLI lifeboats were denied entry to the larger Southampton Port and Portsmouth Harbour and threatened with legal action if they approached.
Alexis Boon, Chief Constable of Hampshire Police, said protesters caused ‘some serious problems’ and a small number of officers were treated for injuries.
He said police ‘will go after’ individuals once they have been identified.
