Family caught up in Portsmouth anti-migrant protest 'felt unsafe'

A family trapped on a yacht at a Portsmouth marina described feeling “completely unsafe” during an anti-migrant protest that led to roads being blocked Sunday. Toby Merritt-Smith said demonstrators arrived near Eastney Landing with the intention of stopping about 140 people from leaving the city, and he heard radio warnings about a dinghy behind his boat that made the situation “absolutely nerve-wracking.” He said bottles were thrown, police officers hit, fences ripped down and chains cut, and police vehicles were reported with slashed tyres and smashed windows. After repeated false alarms, police later cleared the marina at night. Protesters dispersed around 04:00 Monday.