25.02.2015 20:31 h

Seven men sought in racist chant inquiry - police

British police on Thursday released photographs of seven men heard chanting racist songs at a London train station after a Chelsea Champions League game.

The images were taken at St Pancras International station in London on February 18, 24 hours after Chelsea's game at Paris Saint Germain, British Transport Police (BTP) said.

"The racist chanting was reported by a member of the public who was disgusted by the behaviour of the men who had travelled on the 6.40pm service from Paris Gard du Nord," said Superintendent Gill Murray from British Transport Police in a statement.

"The men shouted as they walked through the station having alighted from the train a short time earlier.

"If you travelled on the train from Paris or were at the station and have information which can assist our investigation, I would urge you to get in touch as a matter of urgency."

The incident followed the episode on the Paris metro last Tuesday when Chelsea fans were filmed preventing a black man from boarding a train and chanting: "We're racist, we're racist, and that's the way we like it!"

In a statement earlier Thursday, solicitor John Kaye, who has been engaged by Chelsea fan Jamie Fairbairn, 23, said his client had accepted being among those on the train in Paris during the incident involving the commuter, Souleymane Sylla, on the evening of February 17.

Kaye added that his client denies preventing Mr Sylla from boarding or using words of a racist or threatening nature, and also denies saying anything of a racist nature during his visit to Paris or later at St Pancras.

Kaye said Fairbairn was not even present during the alleged racist chanting incident at St Pancras.

Later, BTP said: "Two men have come forward in connection with the investigation into racist chanting at St Pancras International station on Wednesday February 18. Our officers are making further inquiries as a result."

BTP did not say if the two men were among the seven pictured at St Pancras.