Piccadilly demo chaos
PROTESTERS BRING STATION TO STANDSTILL LEAVING THOUSANDS OF PASSENGERS STRANDED AS TRAIN SERVICES ARE CANCELLED
TRAINS at Manchester Piccadilly station ground to a halt after a mass protest blocked the lines.
Around 100 activists made their way from the concourse onto the tracks at around 1pm yesterday.
Services were halted, affecting customers across the country.
Northern, Virgin and TransPennine Express services were all suspended while police dealt with the incident. The station reopened shortly after 4pm.
Huge numbers of people were pictured at Manchester Piccadilly waiting for information on replacement trains.
Services across the country were cancelled or delayed, with delays late into the evening.
Flag-waving protesters said the demonstration was organised by Manchester’s Kurdish community in response to the Turkish government’s action in northern Syria.
A spokesman for the group said campaigners were trying to draw attention to Turkish attacks on the Kurdish-held city of Afrin.
“This was an on-the-spot demonstration by angry people who feel the UK government has been quiet on this issue,” he added.
“Our job is to try and help the Kurdish community here as much as we can. “The international community and the media are not paying enough attention to this issue.” In a statement just after 5pm yesterday, a spokesman for British Transport Police said: “Those involved in this afternoon’s incident will be subject to intense investigation with a view to arrest and prosecution.
“All protesters at Manchester Piccadilly have now been safely moved from the tracks and the station has reopened.
“We will continue to maintain a police presence at this station and at other stations across the rail network.”