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Dozens of masked men dressed in all black descended on the Port of Dover on Saturday morning in what police have described as a “protest.”
Port authorities said there was an “ongoing public order incident” happening across the town, which is a key passenger hub for ferry services between the UK and mainland Europe.
The Port of Dover has since confirmed that “operations have returned to normal,” with routes in and out of Dover and the port open and traffic “moving freely.”
It had earlier said the incident was “affecting all routes in and out the port and town.”
P&O Ferries, which operates a ferry from Dover to Calais, said its services were operating with delays of up to an hour following the disruption.
Video footage circulating online shows protesters – many wearing balaclavas, hoods and hats – gathering in the Kent town and chanting.
Far-right anti-immigration activist Tommy Robinson shared a video of the protest on his X account, writing in the caption: “British patriots send a warning shot to the establishment in Dover this morning.”
“Patriots can organise and gather huge numbers without the need for social media. Watch this grow,” he continued, adding: “We want our country back.”
Mike Tapp, the Labour MP for Dover and Deal, criticised those involved in another post on X, telling protesters to go home and saying he was speaking with police.
“Dover Park Run cancelled, port access disrupted, the lives of residents made more difficult,” he wrote.
“I am fed up with idiots coming to Dover to cause disruption. I bet if you asked any one of those ‘protesters’ they wouldn’t know small boat crossing are down by 40%,” Tapp added, referring to migrant Channel crossings.
Officers from Kent police attended the scene and were “engaging with protesters,” according to the force.
“No arrests were made. Traffic is flowing normally, and all involved had dispersed by midday,” it added in an update on Saturday afternoon.
This is a developing story. Check back here for further details.
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