British anti-immigration protesters mistake Pakistan U-19 cricket team for migrants: ‘You’ve got it wrong, people’ | Today’s news
A group of masked anti-immigration protesters gathered outside a four-star hotel in Portsmouth, UK, after reports emerged that a group of asylum seekers had been taken there when it was actually a touring Pakistan under-19 cricket team, British media reported on Wednesday.
The incident happened on the evening of September 8 (Tuesday) in the northern suburbs of Portsmouth after protesters disrupted the disembarkation of many migrants near the port city and confronted police in widely condemned scenes.
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What sparked the protests in Portsmouth, UK?
The protest in Portsmouth came a day after hundreds of masked anti-immigration demonstrators blocked roads leading to Britain’s busiest ferry port of Dover on Saturday, snarling traffic and disrupting passengers and lorries bound for France.
Hundreds of protesters, many dressed in dark clothing and wearing masks, clashed with police in Portsmouth late on Sunday in an attempt to prevent rescue boats from bringing migrants ashore. They then tried to block buses transporting new arrivals to an asylum seeker processing facility.
Immigration and the annual arrival of tens of thousands of asylum seekers on small boats from mainland Europe has become a politically toxic issue in Britain, sparking numerous protests in recent years, some of which have turned violent.
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What we know about the Pakistan Under-19 Cricket Team incident
According to AFP, Tuesday’s incident came after online reports that a coach with young Asians on board had attracted protesters at the Marriott Hotel in the Portsmouth suburb of Cosham.
George Madgwick, a councilor from the anti-immigration Reform UK party, went to the scene and helped disperse the crowd after confirming the men were in fact members of Pakistan’s teenage cricket team, The Guardian newspaper reported.
“I also spoke to the team coach who was very understanding,” Madgwick said. He added: “I went out to the protesters and said, ‘You’ve got it wrong guys, it’s a cricket club.’ They left within minutes. It was an extremely unfortunate event.”
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Pakistan’s senior men are currently involved in the third Test against England at Birmingham’s Edgbaston ground.
According to The Guardian, the news first emerged after Madgwick posted on Facebook urging people to stay away from the area.
Madgwick wrote: “There have been reports that possible migrants were staying at the Marriott Hotel. I can confirm this is NOT the case. Please do not visit the hotel.”
“A number of concerned locals spotted what they thought were migrants entering the Marriott Hotel. A number of you messaged me and asked me to come down. I spoke to the hotel and they agreed to meet me.”
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary, which has responsibility for the region, said units “were made aware that a group of people were beginning to gather near the hotel on Tuesday evening”.
“Officers subsequently attended and spoke to members of the public who had gathered who were expressing concerns about the coach being seen in the area,” the spokesman added.
“The police have explained that their fears were not correct,” the spokesman said, according to AFP, without confirming that Pakistani cricketers were mistakenly targeted.
He noted that the crowd of about 30 people dispersed shortly after and no wrongdoing was found.
Michael Bradley, national organizer for Stand Up To Racism, condemned the incident as an example of “where the victimization of refugees and migrants can lead”.
“When the Pakistan U-19 team faces protests because it may actually be a group of migrants, it means that basically any group of black or Asian people coming into town is seen by the far right as a potential target,” he said.
“It’s obvious where this will all end – racist attacks and more violence.”
Since the incident, the England and Wales Cricket Board has contacted the Pakistan Cricket Board to check on the welfare of those involved and is reviewing security arrangements for the remainder of the team’s tour, the Guardian report added.
The team played England Under-19s in a four-day Test last week, losing by 10 runs, and play a one-day game against the same opponents on Wednesday in Arundel, about 25 miles from Portsmouth.
The final match, also an ODI, is scheduled for Saturday in Guildford. Pakistan’s senior men’s team is also in the country, playing the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston.
(With inputs from AFP and The Guardian)
