Protesters stormed a King’s College London event featuring a controversial anti-feminist YouTube star, with the university accused of prioritising “safe space” policies over protecting students from violence.

Police are investigating after masked activists reportedly assaulted security guards as they barged into the university building, smashed windows, hurled smoke bombs and set off a fire alarm.

It comes amid growing concern about threats to free speech on university campuses, with students seeking to "no platform" individuals or groups whose views are deemed offensive.

This is the latest in a series of campus events to descend into violence, with campaigners using aggressive tactics to shut down talks and intimidate audience members.

Masked activists dressed in black broke into a room on Monday evening where King’s College Libertarian Society was hosting an panel event with guest speakers Carl Benjamin and Dr Yaron Brook.

Benjamin, who uses the pseudonym Sargon of Akkad for his YouTube channel, is known for his anti-feminist and anti-progressive views, and has been described as an “alt right” sympathiser.

He was discussing the philosophy of Objectivism alongside Dr Brook, who is chair of the Board of Directors at the Ayn Rand Institute.