Protesters Mistake Pakistani U-19 Cricket Team for Migrants Outside Portsmouth Marriott

In Portsmouth’s Cosham suburb, roughly 40-50 anti-immigration protesters gathered outside the four-star Marriott hotel on Tuesday evening, under the impression that the hotel was sheltering several coachloads of newly arrived migrants. Hotel management informed the crowd that the occupants were actually the Pakistan Under-19 men's cricket team and its support staff, who are touring England for a series against the England Under-19 side.

Councillor George Madgwick confirmed the misunderstanding, noting that the demonstrators accepted the clarification and left within minutes. The incident came after a larger demonstration at Eastney Landing on Sunday, where about 500 people attempted to block the transport of 120 migrants, leading to several police officers being treated for injuries. The RNLI, which rescued the migrants, reported its volunteers facing physical and online abuse, prompting chief executive Peter Sparkes to condemn the attacks. Hampshire Police chief Alexis Boon warned that those responsible will be pursued.