Pro-Palestine protesters lock down London Liverpool Street station as they stage sit-down campaign during rush hour

Pro-Palestinian protesters shut down London Liverpool Street station as they carried out a sit-down campaign during rush hour today.

Photos and videos posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, show the crowd of protesters chanting, cheering and clapping. Many waved large Palestinian flags in the station.

Demonstrators could also be heard shouting: “Palestine will be free.”

Hundreds of activists chanted: ‘What do we want? Armistice. When do we want it? Now.’

Police officers were filmed trying to move commuters along as curious onlookers stopped to see what was happening during the sit-down protest.

Sisters Uncut, a feminist group that organized the protest, posted on X: ‘Sit-in taking over Liverpool Street Station in solidarity with the Palestinian people – no business as usual until the genocide ends. Armistice now.”

The group also claimed that more than 500 demonstrators had come to the station to protest.

The group also said: ‘There will be no business as usual until the genocide ends. We are closing Liverpool Street station, join us.”

Many protesters held signs and banners with statements such as: “Ceasefire now” and “We cannot ignore genocide.”

Another sign read: ‘Jews against genocide. Our grief is not your weapon.”

According to the live departures board on National Rail’s website, services from Liverpool Street Station, believed to be the third busiest station in Britain, will not be affected.

Outnumbered British Transport Police watched protesters as they sat on the floor of the station, beneath the digital departure boards.

Network Rail confirmed to MailOnline that there were no operational issues at the station – which remained open to customers – and the protesters left at around 7pm.

A spokesperson for British Transport Police told MailOnline: ‘British Transport Police attended Liverpool Street Station shortly after 5pm this evening following reports of a protest in the concourse.

‘Officers worked to safely disperse the crowd and ensure passengers could gain access to the station. Following the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza, British Transport Police will carry out high-visibility patrols at stations across the network to reassure and protect communities.

‘If you see or experience hate crime or other threatening behavior, please report it to us so we can take action.

‘Anyone wishing to make a report in relation to the Liverpool Street protest can text 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 324 of 31 October 2023.’