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.</s>Chilling video shows a group of protesters, with balaclavas and bandannas drawn over their faces, march into the room together at King's College London on Monday night.

Violence erupted as the protesters, some waving the Antifa anti-fascist flag, clashed with students and security at a talk hosted by the KCL Libertarian Society.

Smoke bombs were hurled on campus, a window was broken and a number of security guards were injured in the violence, eyewitnesses said.

The protesters also grabbed the speakers' microphones before smashing windows and threatening the moderator.

Organisers were forced to evacuate the building and call the police.

The target of the protest was controversial YouTube vlogger Carl Benjamin, who goes by the name of 'Sargon of Akkad' online.

Mr Benjamin describes himself as a 'classical liberal' vlogger; he is known for 'anti-progressive' views and has been described by critics as a member of the 'alt right'.

The event, organised by the KCL Libertarian Society, also featured a talk by Ayn Rand Institute director Dr Yaron Brook.

Protesters waved the red flag of Antifa - a self-styled left wing anti-fascist group known for its militant protest tactics.

The KCL Libertarian Society said in a statement released to Mirror Online: "After refusing entry to ticketed members of the public for 'safety' reasons, the King's College London & KCLSU administration failed to prevent violent and masked activists storming the stage and the university at tonight's event.

"Windows have been smashed and gas bombs lit outside campus.

"A number of KCL security guards have been assaulted, and to them and their families we offer our prayers and wishes for a speedy recovery.

"The event has now been cancelled and evacuated after threats to the moderator.

"This was an act of violence, clearly intended to silence Yaron and Sargon's planned debate, via a series of jackbooted totalitarian tactics that unfortunately proved successful tonight."

However the society stated that it would not let the attack to threaten their commitment to freedom of speech.

A King’s College London spokesperson told Mirror Online: "Last night’s event organised by King’s College London’s Libertarian Society had to be cancelled after protesters violently forced their way into the venue.

"The police attended and we are fully co-operating with their investigation. We absolutely condemn the use of violent protest in any situation.

"Universities provide an environment for open and uncensored debate from all sides on issues of political, scientific, moral, ethical and religious significance and where people have conflicting views.

"This should be able to take place without fear of violence or intimidation."

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "Police were called at 18:50hrs on Monday, 5 March to reports of a disruption at King’s College, Westminster WC2. 



"A group of people are believed to have forced their way into a building and set off fire alarms and a smoke bomb."

The spokesperson said that the group had dispersed by the time police arrived and there were no reported injuries and no arrests but their enquiries continue.

Mirror Online contacted Antifa and the KCL Libertarian Society for comment.</s>Chilling video shows a group of protesters, with balaclavas and bandannas drawn over their faces, march into the room together at King's College London on Monday night.

Violence erupted as the protesters, some waving the Antifa anti-fascist flag, clashed with students and security at a talk hosted by the KCL Libertarian Society.

Smoke bombs were hurled on campus, a window was broken and a number of security guards were injured in the violence, eyewitnesses said.

The protesters also grabbed the speakers' microphones before smashing windows and threatening the moderator.

Organisers were forced to evacuate the building and call the police.

The target of the protest was controversial YouTube vlogger Carl Benjamin, who goes by the name of 'Sargon of Akkad' online.

Mr Benjamin describes himself as a 'classical liberal' vlogger; he is known for 'anti-progressive' views and has been described by critics as a member of the 'alt right'.

The event, organised by the KCL Libertarian Society, also featured a talk by Ayn Rand Institute director Dr Yaron Brook.

Protesters waved the red flag of Antifa - a self-styled left wing anti-fascist group known for its militant protest tactics.

A King’s College London spokesperson told Mirror Online: "Last night’s event organised by King’s College London’s Libertarian Society had to be cancelled after protesters violently forced their way into the venue.

"The police attended and we are fully co-operating with their investigation. We absolutely condemn the use of violent protest in any situation.

"Universities provide an environment for open and uncensored debate from all sides on issues of political, scientific, moral, ethical and religious significance and where people have conflicting views.

"This should be able to take place without fear of violence or intimidation."

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "Police were called at 18:50hrs on Monday, 5 March to reports of a disruption at King’s College, Westminster WC2. 



"A group of people are believed to have forced their way into a building and set off fire alarms and a smoke bomb."

The spokesperson said that the group had dispersed by the time police arrived and there were no reported injuries and no arrests but their enquiries continue.

Mirror Online contacted Antifa and the KCL Libertarian Society for comment.</s>The demonstrators are said to have set off smoke bombs, a fire alarm, smashed windows and sent security staff to hospital as they attempted to “no platform” Carl Benjamin, otherwise known as Sargon of Akkad, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ayn Rand Institute, Dr. Yaron Brook. The event, hosted by the KCL Libertarian Society, was captured in dramatic footage which shows a group of masked men storm the lecture theatre waving an Antifa flag. The attempt to stifle free speech soon turned violent as video footage shows one of the protestors was punched in the face seemingly by an audience member before being dragged to the ground. King’s Libertarian Society, issued a statement calling the evening “an act of violence, clearly intended to silence Yaron and Sargon's planned debate, via a series of jackbooted totalitarian tactics that unfortunately proved successful.”

The statement added: “Windows have been smashed, and gas bombs were lit on campus. “A number of KCL security guards are on their way to hospital after being assaulted…” Violent protests also flared up outside the event hall which led the college to bar all non-student ticket holders from attending the event. Non-student ticket holder John Switzer Haagensen said: “It was somewhat chaotic at the campus. “We were outside in the hallway prevented from entering, the antifascists aggressors arrived with smoke bombs.

"I strongly feel the university caved into the Antifa protesters. “They need to protect free speech and not prevent people from joining peacefully.” The event was for a discussion about Dr. Rand’s "philosophy, Objectivism”. Because of the protests, the Ayn Rand Institute estimates the Libertarian Society was forced to turn away 200 external ticket holders. One individual who was turned away said: “I was told that due to a ‘risk assessment’ that it was only open to students.

“So I just huffed and went home. “I’m not surprised it’s just an underhand tactic to effectively censor ideas they dislike. “Which is fine I just wish they were more honest about it.” There was a separate protest planned in advance of the meeting with a Facebook event set up by the KCL Socialist Student, Intersectional Feminist Society, Kashmir Solidarity Movement, KCL LGBT+, KCL Action Palestine Society, KCL Justice For Cleaners and the Demilitarise King's campaign. The Facebook event for the protest said: “Come out, be loud, interrupt fascist spaces and organisations, don't let their discourse be normalised.”

The Facebook page also accused Sargon of Akkad as being “alt-right” which they claim is what “nazis and white supremacists have rebranded themselves and gained popularity in the UK and abroad”. Before the event, Mr Brook posted: “It seems I can't please anyone: the alt-right call me a Leftist commie (or obectivleftist, if your an alt-right ‘objectivist’), and the Left calls me a racist fascist. “I guess this is the fate of a real individualist.”

Antifa is a left-wing group founded in the US dedicated to combatting what it perceives to be fascist. It is controversial and known for using militant protest tactics. A spokesman for the KCL Libertarian Society told the Standard: "We will continue to pursue our goal of resisting any threats to freedom of speech. "By continuing to plan the range of events and campaigns we have in store, in order to encourage productive dialogue on a wide range of topics.</s>Masked thugs invaded a talk organised by a university free speech society last night before setting off smoke bombs and attacking security guards.

The self-proclaimed 'antifascist' protesters forced their way into the King’s College London lecture hall and grabbed the speakers' microphones before smashing windows and leaving notes threatening the moderator.

Several security guards were punched and had to go to hospital, according to the organisers, who were forced to evacuate the building and call the police.

Footage showed fights breaking out between the protesters and members of the audience with several punches being thrown.

Tristan Teller, 33, who was waiting outside the hall when the gang vaulted the barriers, described the moment the mob launched an unprovoked attack on security guards.

‘Ten to 15 people dressed all in black, with black hoods and black face masks, leapt over the barriers and instantly engaged in a fight with two or three security guards,’ he said.

'They tried to stop them but they just started punching them in the face. One guard, a grey-haired gentleman who looked to be in around 60, received several punches.’

Last night's event was organised by the KCL Libertarian Society and featured Ayn Rand Institute director Dr Yaron Brook alongside controversial YouTube personality Sargon of Akkad, real name Carl Benjamin.

Mr Benjamin identifies as a 'classic liberal' but has been branded by critics as a member of the 'alt-right'.

War studies student Eberle Miller, 21, who watched the chaos unfold, told MailOnline: ‘The protesters hospitalised several university security guards, smashed the window of a grade-one listen building and threw smoke bombs.

‘It only proves they are incapable of persuading anyone to their side through reasoned discourse.’

KCL students' union ordered the Libertarian Society to reschedule last night's talk from March 4 because they claimed security could not be guaranteed on a weekend.

And on the night itself KCLSU officials prevented non-student members of the public who had previously booked tickets from entering for security reasons.

The Libertarian Society, which campaigns against the students' union's safe space policy as a threat to free speech, criticised the hard-Left protesters and student officials for the violence.

'After refusing entry to ticketed members of the public for “safety” reasons, the King's College London & KCLSU administration failed to prevent violent and masked activists storming the stage and the university at tonight's event,’ it said in a statement.

'Windows were smashed and gas bombs lit outside campus. A number of KCL security guards were on their way to hospital after being assaulted.

'The event was cancelled and evacuated after threats to the moderator. This was an act of violence, clearly intended to silence Yaron and Sargon's planned debate, via a series of jackbooted totalitarian tactics that unfortunately proved successful tonight.'

A number of threatening notes were left by protesters, who waved an 'Antifa' [anti-Fascist] flag.

One read: 'The guy moderating the talk is on my course and he'll have a difficult time once the strike is over.'

The Metropolitan Police confirmed they had attended the event but said its officers had not heard of any injuries.

‘Police were called at 6.50pm on Monday, 5 March to reports of a disruption at King’s College, Westminster,' a spokesman said.

‘A group of people are believed to have forced their way into a building and set off fire alarms and a smoke bomb.

‘The group were had dispersed by the time police arrived. There have been no reported injuries. No arrests. Enquiries continue.’

KCLSU was widely criticised last year after MailOnline revealed it pays 'safe space marshals' £12-per-hour to police talks deemed 'risky' by its officials.

They monitor any speaker thought likely to perpetrate a 'safe space breach', which included Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg - who was watched by a total of three marshals at a talk.

The officials are also required to put up posters saying, 'This is a Safe Space' and record any instances of offensive behaviour reported to them by members of the audience.</s>Video shows demonstrators forcing their way into a building on KCL before setting off a fire alarm and smoke bombs to “no platform” the controversial Carl Benjamin, otherwise known as Sargon of Akkad, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ayn Rand Institute, Dr. Yaron Brook. Scuffles broke out, windows were apparently damaged, there are reports that security guards were taken to hospital which forced the KCL Libertarian Society event to be cancelled. National Organiser of Student Rights at the Henry Jackson Society Emma Fox said: “The appalling scenes at KCL last night should put paid to any doubt that there is an encroaching culture of intolerance and hostility towards free speech on university campuses in Britain. “While the two speakers undoubtedly have controversial views, they should be met by the force of argument, not the argument of force.

“KCL have a lot of questions to answer about how these protestors were able to get past security and compromise this event. “The university authorities clearly failed, both in their duty to students and their role as an institute dedicated to education and understanding.” King’s Libertarian Society, issued a statement calling the evening “an act of violence, clearly intended to silence Yaron and Sargon's planned debate, via a series of jackbooted totalitarian tactics that unfortunately proved successful.” The statement added: “Windows have been smashed, and gas bombs were lit on campus.

“A number of KCL security guards are on their way to hospital after being assaulted.” Violent protests also flared up outside the event hall which led the college to bar all non-student ticket holders from attending the event. The police were called but Scotland Yard said no arrests were made. KCL said it would launch a review into the incident. A King’s College London spokesperson said: “The event organised by King’s College London’s Libertarian Society had to be cancelled after protestors violently forced their way into the venue.

“The Police attended and we are fully co-operating with their investigation. “We absolutely condemn the use of violent protest in any situation. “Universities provide an environment for open and uncensored debate from all sides on issues of political, scientific, moral, ethical and religious significance and where people have conflicting views. “This should be able to take place without fear of violence or intimidation. King’s takes its responsibilities to provide a safe environment for free, peaceful and respectful dialogue very seriously. “The university and Students' Union will be reviewing the incident to decide on appropriate action to be taken.”</s>Anti-fascist protesters stormed an event by an ‘alt-right’ speaker at King’s College London, Monday night.Demonstrators wreaked havoc,successfully stopping the talk while scuffles broke out and windows were reportedly smashed.

Dramatic footage shows the moment the left-wing group stormed a lecture theater packed for a speech by Carl Benjamin. Benjamin, who goes online by the moniker of ‘Sargon of Akkad’, has been described by various outlets as a member of the so-called ‘alt-right’, a movement known for its white-supremacist views.

The protesters grabbed the speakers’ microphones before smashing windows and leaving threatening notes to the organizers, the Daily Mail reports. Videos also shows the protesters chanting “no fascism on campus,” as alarms rang out in the background.

READ MORE: Anti-fascists protest against spread of ‘posh schoolboy’ alt-right Generation Identity

“We will continue to pursue our goal of resisting any threats to freedom of speech. By continuing to plan the range of events and campaigns we have in store, in order to encourage productive dialogue on a wide range of topics,” a spokesman for the KCL Libertarian Society, the group which organized the event, told the Evening Standard.

“The event has now been canceled and evacuated after threats to the moderator. Speech, no matter how controversial, should never be met with violence.”

The Met Police confirmed they were called to the university, in Westminster, just before 7pm on Monday night. They told the Standard the group had been dispersed by the time they arrived.

Benjamin is a prominent English YouTuber whose videos feature anti-progressive views. A piece on the vlogger in the Daily Dot described Benjamin as using his videos to target “feminism, Islam and Black Lives Matter,” as well as “the notion of straight white male privilege.” His channel currently has more than 760,000 subscribers.

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Violence breaks out as protesters storm an event organized by the King's College London Libertarian Society which featured Yaron Brook (Ayn Rand Institute) and the antifeminist YouTuber Sargon of Akkad.