Hundreds of masked, black-clad anti-immigration protesters blocked access roads to the Port of Dover in Britain today, causing major traffic disruptions and delays to ferry operations as police responded to what authorities described as an ongoing public-order incident.
The demonstrators reportedly arrived in rented vans and used the vehicles to obstruct traffic around the busy port. Witnesses described some of their actions as intimidating, while footage from the scene showed one protester spray-painting the words “the blood is on your hands” outside a migrant facility in the city.
Eyewitnesses said police appeared heavily outnumbered as the demonstrations and road blockages brought parts of Dover to a virtual standstill.
The far-right group Patriot Platform claimed responsibility for the protest, saying its intention was to keep the port blocked for at least three days.
Right-wing activist Tommy Robinson circulated footage of the demonstrations and claimed that the group had succeeded in shutting down three locations in Dover.
Patriot Platform was established in June by Danny Thomas, an associate of Robinson. The organization has encouraged its supporters to engage in direct action opposing migrants arriving in Britain after crossing the English Channel in small boats.
Mike Tapp, the member of Parliament representing Dover, strongly condemned the protesters, calling them idiots who had traveled to the area simply to cause disruption. Tapp said small-boat crossings had fallen by 40 percent and urged the demonstrators to return home.
Chris Vinson, leader of the Conservative group on the county council, also criticized the manner in which the roadblocks were carried out, describing the demonstrators’ actions as highly intimidating.
Kent Police said officers were responding to an ongoing public-order incident as authorities worked to deal with the blockades and resulting disruption around the port.
{Matzav.com}
