King’s Cross Underground closed after ‘football fans set off flares’

King’s Cross London Underground station was forced to close after football fans set off flares inside.

The station was shut for around half an hour after a fire alarm went off shortly before 12.30am on Sunday.

The disruption came ahead of the Championship play-off final this afternoon at Wembley Stadium between Leeds and Southampton.

Footage post on X from outside the station showed large crowds of Leeds United Fans screaming “Yorkshire” with blue and green flares lit nearby.

One passerby wrote on social media: “What football fan has set off flares at King’s Cross so the whole place has to be evacuated then?”

Another passenger added: “Not leeds fans setting off smoke flares at King’s Cross and closing the platforms.”

Transport for London confirmed the station had reopened shortly after 1pm.

A TfL spokeswoman said: “The station was closed at 12.25pm due to football fans setting off smoke flares within the station.

“There have been three instances of football fans setting off smoke flares today, causing the station fire alarm to be activated.”

LNER has warned that services between Leeds and King’s Cross on Sunday are expected to be extremely busy due to football fans travelling down to the match in west London.In a message to travelling football fans the train operator wrote: “Please remember that not everyone will be going to the game, so please be considerate of our other customers travelling and be kind to our staff who are there to help.”

After both teams were relegated from the Premier League last year Southampton and Leeds will get the chance to make an immediate comeback to the top flight by winning the so-called “richest game in football” at Wembley, where they would join champions Leicester and surprise runners-up Ipswich.