PORTSMOUTH: A protest erupted outside a hotel in Portsmouth after a social media rumour falsely claimed that immigrants had been brought to the venue by bus, when in fact the people arriving were members of the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team.
According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), around 30 to 40 protesters gathered outside the hotel when the Pakistani youth team arrived.
The PCB said some protesters allegedly managed to enter the hotel and reached the players’ rooms, where they knocked on the doors of the young cricketers.
The incident reportedly stemmed from misinformation circulating on social media, with protesters allegedly believing that a group of migrants had been transported to the hotel.
The PCB said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has assured Pakistani officials that all possible measures will be taken to ensure the team’s security.
George Madgwick, a councillor affiliated with the anti-immigration Reform UK party, defended the protest over the cricketers’ arrival but denied that the reaction was racist.
Labour MP for Portsmouth North, Amanda Martin, described the incident as a matter of serious concern.
Meanwhile, Stand Up to Racism Portsmouth, an organisation campaigning against racism in the city, condemned the incident and said local racist elements had spread the false rumour.
The organisation said the mobilisation of racist elements was “extremely dangerous” and described the incident as a practical manifestation of racism that must be stopped.
