Protesters outside Portsmouth hotel confuse Pakistan U19 cricket team for asylum seekers

• Reform councillor said he urged activists to stand down

• Stand Up to Racism condemns ‘dangerous’ gathering

Anti-immigration protesters gathered outside a Portsmouth hotel were forced to cancel their demonstration after discovering the Pakistan Under-19 cricket team rather than a group of asylum seekers were staying there.

Portsmouth had been the site of a large protest on Sunday following the arrival of a large dinghy containing an estimated 140 asylum seekers at the city’s Eastney harbour. A black-clad vigilante group attempted to block the streets around the port to stop the arrivals from leaving the area.