Protest Against Immigration Disrupts Traffic near Dover

On Saturday, groups of masked men blocked roads around the English port of Dover, a major hub for ferry traffic to France. According to the BBC, demonstrators dressed in black and wearing balaclavas chanted "Stop the boats" in reference to the arrival of asylum seekers from France on the south coast of England.

According to the port of Dover and ferry operator P&O Ferries, the main roads leading to the port were blocked on Saturday morning, but access was restored around noon. Police said on social media platform X that officers were on the scene and communicating with the protesters.

Successive British governments have long sought to curb the influx of asylum seekers, who often arrive in overcrowded inflatable boats.

However, official government data cited by the BBC shows that 16,513 people arrived between the start of the year and 1 September, a decrease of approximately 43% compared with the same period in 2025.

(Reuters, max)