London’s St Pancras station sees second protest this month against UK’s response to migration crisis in which thousands have died while travelling

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

Activists threw smoke bombs in a clash with police at London’s Eurostar terminal during a pro-refugee demonstration on Saturday night.

About 100 protesters broke through a police cordon in an attempt to reach the platforms at St Pancras station. Police in riot gear used teargas and batons against the No Borders demonstrators, according to activists.

Theo Kindynis (@TheoKindynis) Protestors break through police lines at Kings Cross St Pancras. Protest in solidarity with refugees pic.twitter.com/vbqwaSasaM

Videos posted on Twitter show a melee with police officers trying to hold back a group of demonstrators until more than a dozen managed to break through onto the concourse.

Once inside the station, some of the demonstrators held up a banner saying “Close down Yarl’s Wood & all detention centres”.

Scotland Yard said they tried to enter the Eurostar platforms at the station, but were stopped by officers.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “Some protesters began to throw items at police, including smoke bombs.

“These protesters were ejected from the station and later dispersed from the area.”

Against Fees & Cuts (@NCAFC_UK) Hearing now of one protester potentially having a broken arm following baton strike?! #NoBorders demo clearly involved police violence

Demonstrators said two people had been arrested and that one person had been injured by police officers.

Activists also claimed the demonstrators were subjected to kettling – a police tactic where groups that police wish to suppress are held in a tight cordon until being allowed to leave one by one.

Pictures were published on social media sites showing police in high-visibility vests questioning people on the concourse of King’s Cross station, just over 100 metres from the scuffles at St Pancras.

Against Fees & Cuts (@NCAFC_UK) St Pancras #NoBorders demo ended with kettle of 20 demonstrators. 2 arrests and others (illegally?) forced to give details and given summons

Bystanders wrote of the chaos on social media. Joel Benjamin said: “Utter carnage at Kings Cross station for migrants demo. Flares, Cops going in batons drawn.”

PhD student Theo Kindynis wrote: “Protestors break through police lines at Kings Cross St Pancras. Protest in solidarity with refugees.”

British Transport police said demonstrators arrived at the station at around 6pm and began a peaceful protest, adding: “Around this time a number of other individuals arrived at the station causing disorder and missiles, including smoke bombs, were thrown at police officers.”

It was the second pro-refugee demonstration to have taken place at St Pancras station this month after protesters threw fake blood on themselves and held up placards saying “borders kill”.