At a protest in Eastney, six men are being pursued by the police. This incident occurred on September 6 during an anti-immigration demonstration that turned violent and clashed with law enforcement.
Violence Against Immigrants
About 200 people attended the gathering to prevent immigrants from disembarking from a small boat. The protesters aimed to stop the transfer of these individuals to a processing center in Kent. During the unrest, several police, coast guard, and border force vehicles were damaged, and ultimately, the gathering was dispersed at 4 AM.
In this incident, seven police officers were injured and treated on-site, but fortunately, none were seriously harmed. The police are currently reviewing hundreds of hours of footage from the event to identify the perpetrators.
Protests and Reactions
A 42-year-old man from Plesgrove has been charged in connection with the protest. Additionally, a 16-year-old boy was arrested in connection with the incident and later released.
One prominent figure at the protest, Daniel Thomas, known as Danny Tomo, along with a group of masked protesters, blocked a bus carrying immigrants. He likened this action in a live broadcast to a "cry for help for those trapped on the shores of Dunkirk" and urged others to come to Portsmouth by boat and form a blockade.
Deputy Chief Constable Tony Rollinson emphasized that "violence and damage to property are not part of peaceful protest, and we will thoroughly investigate these events." He also urged the public to contact the police if they recognize the six men present in the images.
He stated: "The reality of public order policing is that arrests in the moment are not always possible, especially when evidence needs to be reviewed to determine who is responsible for the offenses. Our officers were seriously trying to ensure everyone's safety, and none of them deserved to be attacked."
