Masked protesters disrupt traffic at Britain’s busiest ferry port in Dover, UK
Police have not confirmed who was behind the protest.
Dover District Council leader Kevin Mills criticised the police response, saying officers appeared to be slow to keep roads and access routes open, according to the BBC. “The protesters knew what they were doing, I’m not sure the police did know what was going to happen,” Mills was quoted as saying by the BBC, while acknowledging that police resources were stretched. The Port of Dover said traffic entering and leaving the port had been stopped because of an ongoing “public order incident”. National Highways said the blockade caused a traffic jam of about four miles, disrupting passengers and freight traffic. Kent Police described the gathering as a “spontaneous protest” and said officers were engaging with demonstrators.
No arrests were made. Anti-hate organisation Hope Not Hate claimed the Patriot Platform network had organised the demonstration, saying it had brought together members of anti-migrant groups from across the country.