Anti-immigration protesters gathered outside a hotel in Portsmouth, England, after wrongly believing asylum seekers were staying there. The group later discovered that the people inside were actually members of Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team, prompting the demonstration to quickly end.
The incident came amid heightened tensions in Portsmouth following a major anti-immigration protest over the arrival of around 140 asylum seekers by boat from France. Hundreds had gathered in the city days earlier, with clashes reported between protesters and police.
The latest demonstration began after reports circulated online about a coach carrying around 40 men arriving at the Marriott Hotel. Some protesters believed the group were newly arrived asylum seekers and gathered outside the hotel.
A local councillor then contacted hotel staff and the cricket team’s coach and confirmed that the visitors were Pakistani cricketers touring England. Once the misunderstanding was explained, the protesters left the area within minutes.
The incident has raised concerns about the impact of misinformation during an already tense period over immigration. The England and Wales Cricket Board has since contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board to check on the players’ wellbeing.
Officials are also reviewing security arrangements for the rest of Pakistan’s Under-19 tour. The episode has highlighted the tense atmosphere in Portsmouth, while also leaving a visiting cricket team unexpectedly caught up in the city’s immigration debate.
