Students have a right to hold their own views, the London School of Economics (LSE) has said, after it emerged that a participant in the infamous “Unite the Right” white supremacist rally reportedly enrolled on one of its courses.

Peter Cvjetanovic’s was filmed as he shouted and held a flaming torch at the event in Charlottesville last year as street brawls erupted between white nationalists and counter-protesters.

Heather Heyer, 32, was killed when a car drove through a crowd of counter-protesters. James Alex Fields Jr has been charged with her murder.

Mr Cvjetanovic, a 20-year-old former University of Nevada student is thought to have gained a place to study a master’s in political theory at LSE. Details on a Twitter account in his name appear to confirm this.

LSE said in statement that it did not comment on individual students or on complaints relating to students.

“Nevertheless, we take any complaints that are received very seriously and have robust procedures in place to ensure that all issues of concern raised are dealt with promptly and fairly,” it added. “LSE is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion for all members of the school community.

“Students and staff are free to hold and express their own views, however, we expect everyone within the LSE community to treat each other with respect at all times. Graduate selections are made on the basis of the strength of an individual’s application, with an experienced selector assessing each application, including personal statement and references, alongside agreed criteria set by the department.”

In interviews with the Reno Gazette Journal and Channel 2 News in August 2017, days after the Charlottesville rally took place, Mr Cvjetanovic described himself as a “white nationalist”.

However, he later appeared to backtrack on this claim when he told another interviewer that he no longer identified with the label and calling himself such was his “biggest mistake”.

Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism.

At the time, the University of Nevada refused calls to expel the then-undergraduate despite considerable pressure from other students to do so.

It cited Mr Cvjetanovic's right to free speech in the first amendment of the US constitution.

The Unite the Right rally saw various factions of white nationalist and far-right activists gather in Virginia to oppose the removal of a statue of Confederate general Robert E Lee.

Dozens of people were injured in clashes with counter-demonstrators, while one woman who attended to oppose the march died after a car was driven into a crowd of protesters.

Dennis Farrington, co-author of The Law of Higher Education, told the Times Higher Education magazine that institutions in the UK “have the unqualified right to admit or refuse to admit anyone as a student provided they act within the law and do not discriminate on grounds set out in the Equality Act”.

Dr Farrington said employment case law suggests political beliefs can be considered philosophical beliefs and are therefore protected, but stressed this was in the “context of statutory employment protection."