Pro-Kurdish protesters storm onto tracks at Manchester Piccadilly

Protesters stormed the tracks at Manchester Piccadilly today, causing widespread disruption.

Over 100 protesters trespassed onto several lines at the station as they brandished banners which read, ‘Stop Turkey from helping ISIS terrorists.’

A statement on the National Rail website says: “A trespass incident at Manchester Piccadilly is causing disruption to trains at the stations.”

It has since reopened at 4pm after the protesters blocked train lines for three hours.

The protest was organised by Manchester Kurdish Community and a spokesperson for the group said campaigners were trying to draw attention to Turkish attacks on the Kurdish-held city of Afrin.

In a statement, the group said: “The Kurdish community and its allies are marching in Manchester, and across the world, in solidarity with the defenders of Afrin and demanding international intervention.

“Turkey is the 2nd largest army in NATO and his forces have committed numerous war crimes since crossing the border into Afrin.”

Many passengers were affected, as a passenger trying to get to Piccadilly explains: “We had to get off in York and were told they couldn’t give us information because there were protesters on the track.

“They had no idea when the trains would be running again.”

Passengers have been warned that there will be extensive delays for the rest of the day.

Services at Manchester Piccadilly are expected to return to normal later this evening. Updates and information are available online for passengers looking to travel later on today.