Anti-migrant protesters mistakenly target Pakistan U-19 team hotel in UK
LONDON: Anti-immigration demonstrators in southern England massed outside a hotel where Pakistan’s U-19 cricket squad were staying after mistaking them for asylum seekers, British media reported on Wednesday. The incident on Tuesday evening in a northern suburb of Portsmouth occurred some 48 hours after protesters disrupted the disembarkation of scores of migrants near the port city and…
Anti-immigration protesters in southern England mistook Pakistan’s U-19 cricket team for asylum seekers and targeted their hotel in Portsmouth, British media reported on Wednesday. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening, 48 hours after protesters disrupted the arrival of migrants near Portsmouth port and clashed with police, drawing widespread condemnation.
Immigration has become a politically charged issue in Britain, with numerous protests in recent years, some turning violent. According to media reports, the protesters were initially drawn to a Marriott Hotel in Cosham after reports circulated online of a coach with young Asian men inside. A councillor from the anti-immigration Reform UK party went to the scene and helped disperse the crowd once it was confirmed the men were actually members of Pakistan’s teenage cricket team, The Guardian reported.
Hampshire Police, responsible for the area, stated that officers were alerted to a gathering near the hotel and informed the public that their concerns were unfounded. The crowd of around 30 people dispersed shortly after, with no offenses identified. Michael Bradley, a national organiser from the Stand Up To Racism organization, denounced the incident as an illustration of how the scapegoating of refugees and migrants can escalate. He warned that such actions could lead to racist attacks and further violence.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
