Organisers of a student march over
a planned rise in university fees said their cause has been “undermined”
after the protest erupted into violence
Riot police were drafted in after
protesters smashed their way into Millbank Tower – the headquarters of the
Conservative Party – in central London and occupied the roof.
As many as 50,000 students from
across the UK travelled to the capital for the rally, which was arranged by the
National Union of Students (NUS) and University and College Union (UCU).
However, NUS president Aaron Porter
has branded those responsible an “utter disgrace”, while the
Metropolitan Police commissioner has admitted it is an
“embarrassment” for his force.
Mr Porter said that some people –
“perhaps anarchists” – had “deliberately come to hijack the
event”.
Demonstrators smashed windows to
gain entry to the building and managed to get onto the roof.
At one point, a fire extinguisher
thrown from the top of Millbank Tower was seen to land just a few feet from
officers standing below.
Scotland Yard has confirmed that at
least 32 arrests have been made.
Sir Paul Stephenson – the Met
Police commissioner – has condemned the “thuggish loutish behaviour by
criminals”, but admitted it is “an embarrassment”.
“We didn’t expect this level
of violence – but we’ve got to ask ourselves the question: ‘should we have
anticipated it,'” he said.
The protesters want to persuade the
Government to back down on plans to allow universities to charge tuition fees
of up to $14,000 a year from 2012.
The plans dominated Prime
Minister’s Questions where Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg came under fire for
his party’s U-turn after campaigning against a fees rise in the General
Election.
Related Videos
