UK: Masked protesters opposed to migrant crossings block Dover port

Dover’s ferry port was brought to a standstill on Saturday when dozens of masked people in black clothing blocked every road into and out of the terminal. The demonstrators were reportedly protesting migrant crossings of the English Channel.

The Port of Dover said incoming and outgoing traffic had been suspended because of an ongoing public-order incident. Local police said officers were “engaging” with the protesters. The port later confirmed that the demonstrators had blocked “all routes” serving the terminal.

Images shared online showed dozens of people wearing black and balaclavas gathering on roads around the port, which connects southern England with northern France. The images could not be independently verified by AFP. Paul King, a local elected representative from the anti-immigration Reform UK party, said he had been told the action was a “stop the boats protest.”

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Engaging

Successive British governments have promised to curb unauthorized Channel crossings, an increasingly combustible issue that has helped fuel Reform UK’s rise. Figures released by British authorities at the end of August showed asylum applications fell 21% in the year to the end of June 2026, reaching their lowest level since 2022. Small-boat arrivals also fell 23%.

The disruption affected a port with a major role in Britain’s trade with the European Union. During the summer, Dover handles more than 10,000 freight vehicles and 15,000 private vehicles each day, according to the port platform, and carries one-third of goods trade between Great Britain and the EU.

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Stop the boats protest