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17:59, UK, Sunday 11 March 2018
All lines in and out of the station have been suspended, with a number of cancellations and delays of up to 60 minutes.
Normal service is not expected to resume until 6.30pm, according to Network Rail.
Social media images appeared to show the protesters flying the flag of a proscribed organisation, although neither Greater Manchester Police (GMP) nor British Transport Police (BTP) have responded to this potential offence.
Image
rotesters trespassed onto the tracks. Pic: Chris Woodhouse
BTP's Superintendent Mark Cleland said: "While we appreciate and respect the right to peaceful protest, when this compromises the safety of the public and the protesters themselves, any offenders will attract the full investigative resources of BTP.
"Those involved in this afternoon's incident will be subject to intense investigation with a view to arrest and prosecution.
"All protesters at Manchester Piccadilly have now been safely moved from the tracks and the station has reopened.
"We will continue to maintain a police presence at this station and at other stations across the rail network."
Image:Some banners read 'Stop Turkey from helping ISIS terrorists'. Pic: Sophy Colbert / @sophycolbert
Earlier, National Rail said in a statement: "Protesters are on the tracks at the station and attempting to climb overhead line equipment."
Among those present at the station was Chris Woodhouse, who said families were in tears on the platforms as trains bound for airports were among those cancelled because of the demonstration.
Images on social media showed protesters sitting on train tracks with yellow banners in support of the YPG (People's Protection Units), a Kurdish militia group.
Some read: "Stop Turkey from helping ISIS terrorists".
Image
emonstrators wave Kurdish political flags. Pic: @cannychad
The demonstration follows several months of conflict between Kurdish groups and Turkish forces in Afrin, northern Syria.
Turkey regards the YPG as a terrorist group, although it is not a proscribed organisation.
More from Manchester
Record number of terror arrests in 2017 after high-profile attacks
Red flags displaying the emblem of the proscribed PKK are also visible in images of the Manchester Piccadilly protest posted to social media.
All lines in and out of the station have been suspended, with a number of cancellations and delays of up to 60 minutes.
Normal service is not expected to resume until 6.30pm, according to Network Rail.
Social media images appeared to show the protesters flying the flag of a proscribed organisation, although neither Greater Manchester Police (GMP) nor British Transport Police (BTP) have responded to this potential offence.
Image
rotesters trespassed onto the tracks. Pic: Chris WoodhouseBTP's Superintendent Mark Cleland said: "While we appreciate and respect the right to peaceful protest, when this compromises the safety of the public and the protesters themselves, any offenders will attract the full investigative resources of BTP.
"Those involved in this afternoon's incident will be subject to intense investigation with a view to arrest and prosecution.
"All protesters at Manchester Piccadilly have now been safely moved from the tracks and the station has reopened.
"We will continue to maintain a police presence at this station and at other stations across the rail network."
Image:Some banners read 'Stop Turkey from helping ISIS terrorists'. Pic: Sophy Colbert / @sophycolbert
Earlier, National Rail said in a statement: "Protesters are on the tracks at the station and attempting to climb overhead line equipment."
Among those present at the station was Chris Woodhouse, who said families were in tears on the platforms as trains bound for airports were among those cancelled because of the demonstration.
Images on social media showed protesters sitting on train tracks with yellow banners in support of the YPG (People's Protection Units), a Kurdish militia group.
Some read: "Stop Turkey from helping ISIS terrorists".
Image
emonstrators wave Kurdish political flags. Pic: @cannychadThe demonstration follows several months of conflict between Kurdish groups and Turkish forces in Afrin, northern Syria.
Turkey regards the YPG as a terrorist group, although it is not a proscribed organisation.
More from Manchester
Record number of terror arrests in 2017 after high-profile attacks
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Red flags displaying the emblem of the proscribed PKK are also visible in images of the Manchester Piccadilly protest posted to social media.
