Masked men block traffic to UK’s port of Dover, site of past anti-immigrant protests

On Saturday, masked men blocked the entrance to Britain's busiest ferry port, the Port of Dover. Police stated they were "engaging with the protesters." The Port of Dover reported all traffic, both inbound and outbound, had been halted due to a public order incident. Social media footage revealed several dozen men in black, with their faces concealed, standing in the roadway near the port.

The reason for their protest was not immediately discernible. The National Highways agency confirmed the protests resulted in a 4-mile (6.4-kilometer) traffic jam, causing delays of up to 45 minutes. P&O Ferries, the company operating services between Dover and Calais in France, affirmed their boats were operating on schedule. Passengers affected by the delay would be offered the next available crossing.

Dover, situated approximately 70 miles (110 kilometers) south-east of London, has previously witnessed anti-immigrant protests concerning migrants arriving via small boats from France. Several politicians, such as Nigel Farage of the far-right Reform UK party, have exploited this issue, labeling asylum seekers as an "invasion" during a speech on Friday.

Labour Party government claims intensified law enforcement cooperation between Britain and France has led to a reduction of over 40% in people making the crossing this year compared to 2025. Mike Tapp, a Labour lawmaker representing Dover in Parliament, disparaged "idiots coming to Dover to cause disruption." He stated, "I bet if you asked any one of those 'protesters' they wouldn't know small boat crossings are down by 40% and we are working hard to fix the mess." Tapp wrote on Facebook on Saturday, "Go home, enjoy your weekend/get a job."