Ami Ayalon (pictured), the former head of the Israeli secret service Shin Bet and commander-in-chief of the navy, was speaking with students at Kings College London when rioters burst in

One of Britain's top universities had to be evacuated when violent protesters stormed an Israel society meeting and began rioting.

Ami Ayalon, the former head of the Israeli secret service Shin Bet and commander-in-chief of the navy, was speaking with students at Kings College London in his new role as a peace activist when the campaigners - believed to be from KCL Action Palestine - burst in.

Eyewitnesses described seeing the mob throw chairs, smash windows and set off fire alarms before the building was shut down by police.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over the rise of intimidation and the suppression of free speech on British university campuses.

Esther Endfield, from the KCL Israel Society - who were hosting the event with a group from the neighbouring London School of Economics, posted on Facebook: 'Never did I ever think that I would have to write a post like this, but in life sometimes you do things that you never expect.

'Protests by KCL Action Palestine at this event was inevitable but it was never inevitable that it would turn violent, not to the point that I have reported being assaulted to the police, which is also being investigated as under a hate crime.'

She continued: 'When did it become so unsafe in one of the global universities in the world that we can no longer hold an event without being scared of our safety?

'What if KCL Action Palestine would have come to the event with questions and challenged the speaker in a respectful and peaceful manner?'

The meeting had to be stopped after the rioters broke in.

Eyewitnesses reported seeing two police cars, two vans and more than 15 officers race to the scene.

A Met Police spokesman confirmed that officers attended following reports that demonstrators had gained access to the building but added that no arrests were made.

The incident at Kings College (pictured) comes amid growing concerns over the rise of intimidation and the suppression of free speech on British university campuses

Tonight Universities Minister Jo Johnson criticised the protesters. He told MailOnline: 'Britain and Israel share many important academic links and speakers must be able to address meetings peacefully.

'Our universities should be safe spaces for students to expand their minds, and there can be no justification for violent intimidation that curtails free speech.'

The angry protest is the latest in a series of oppressive incidents reported at universities across the country.

Iranian-born human rights activist Maryam Namazie faced intimidation from members of a student Islamic society when speaking at Goldsmith University in London.

Students at Cardiff University also campaigned to ban Germaine Greer from speaking.