A 42-year-old man, Del Leon Somerville, has appeared in court accused of throwing a bottle at police and assaulting an officer during disorder at an anti migrant protest in Portsmouth.
Somerville, from Paulsgrove, appeared before Portsmouth Magistrates’ Court after police investigated disturbances at Eastney Marina on Sunday 6 September.
The disorder erupted after a small boat carrying about 120 migrants who had crossed the English Channel arrived off the Portsmouth coast. Hundreds of protesters gathered and blocked roads in an attempt to prevent coaches carrying the migrants from leaving the area for processing.
Prosecutor Lucy Paddick told the court Somerville allegedly threw a bottle towards a police line during the confrontation. He was also accused of shouting an expletive as the bottle was thrown.
The court heard that Somerville allegedly kicked a police officer, making contact with the officer’s right thigh.
He did not enter a plea and was remanded in custody to appear at Portsmouth Crown Court on 16 September.
Hampshire Police said around 200 people remained at Eastney Marina until about 4am. Several police, Coastguard and Border Force vehicles were damaged during the unrest, while a small number of officers were treated for injuries. No one was seriously injured.
The incident has triggered wider concern over increasingly confrontational anti migrant protests. Similar disorder was reported in Dover the previous day, while rival demonstrators are gathering in Portsmouth today under banners including Stand Up to Racism and Refugees Welcome.
Police have warned that protesters wearing face coverings could face arrest under new powers designed to prevent violence while allowing peaceful protest.
