Protesters block Portsmouth after migrant boat arrival on Sunday
Politics · 7 September 2026
Written by AI from multiple news reports
About 500 protesters gathered at Portsmouth's Eastney Marina on Sunday after a boat carrying around 140 migrants arrived nearby. The boat was stopped in the Solent, the stretch of water between the Isle of Wight and Portsmouth. Migrants were then moved to lifeboats and brought to shore close to the ferry port, where several coaches were waiting.
Protesters blocked roads and said they would stop migrants from being taken to a processing centre in Kent. Some wore all black, similar to protesters at Dover the day before. Police used riot shields and ordered people to leave the area. Hampshire Police asked the public to stay away.
Daniel Thomas, connected to activist Tommy Robinson, streamed video online and encouraged more people to join the protest.