Police seek seven Chelsea fans over St Pancras chants

Detectives have appealed for help to identify seven Chelsea fans following alleged racist chanting at St Pancras station in London last week.


British Transport police (BTP) issued images of the men taken at around 8pm last Wednesday following Chelsea’s Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.
St Pancras Chelsea fans Some of the seven men sought by police. Photograph: PA

The chanting at St Pancras happened 24 hours after a separate group of Chelsea fans were involved in a racist incident on the Paris Métro.

DS Steven Graysmark said: “I want anyone who knows the men in the photographs to come forward. I believe the seven, thought to be Chelsea fans, can help us with the investigation. Do you know any of the men in the images? If so, please contact BTP.”

Supt Gill Murray previously said the alleged racist chanting was reported by a member of the public who was “disgusted” by the behaviour of the men, who had travelled on the 18.40 service from Paris Gare du Nord.
St Pancras Chelsea fans Another of the men at St Pancras. Photograph: PA

Last week a Chelsea fan admitted he was involved in an incident on the Paris Métro in which a black man was prevented from boarding a train while a group of men chanted a racist song.

Richard Barklie, 50, a former police officer who now works as a director for the World Human Rights Forum, apologised but denied he was a racist. In a statement, he denied any part in the racist chanting and said he “condemns any behaviour supporting that”.

Chelsea barred five fans from their stadium after footage of the Métro incident was published by the Guardian.

Anyone with information on the St Pancras incident is urged to contact British Transport police on 0800 405040, or by text on 61016, quoting reference B8/ESUB of 24 February 2015. Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.


By Josh Halliday, Guardian