625 migrants arrive in the UK aboard small boats as protests erupt in Dover and Portsmouth
The British Home Office has announced that 625 migrants traveling in eight small boats were brought ashore at the ports of Dover and Portsmouth on September 6.
Sea-news.az reports that the arrival of the coast guard vessels carrying the migrants in Portsmouth was met with intense local protests. Demonstrators attempted to block the migrants from landing and subsequently tried to obstruct the buses transporting them away from the area. During the unrest, vehicles belonging to the police, coast guard, and border services sustained damage. Several police officers received on-site medical treatment for minor injuries sustained during clashes. Law enforcement agencies have launched an active investigation to identify and prosecute those involved in the public disorder.
According to official statistics, despite this latest influx, the number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats from January 1 to September 5 has decreased by 43 percent compared to the same period last year. Nevertheless, thousands of individuals continue attempting the perilous maritime journey each year, keeping the issue at the forefront of British political and social debate.
