Hijacking of a very middle class protest: Anarchists cause chaos as 50,000 students take to streets over fees

Met chief: This is an embarrassment for London and for us

It was supposed to be a day of peaceful protest, with students exercising their democratic right to demonstrate against soaring university fees.

But anarchists hijacked the event, setting off the most violent scenes of student unrest seen in Britain for decades. Militants from far-Left groups whipped up a mix of middle-class students and younger college and school pupils into a frenzy.

The focus of the violence was Tory HQ in central London, where hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage was caused.



Clashes: A protester kicks in the glass at Millbank Tower in Westminster yesterday

Destructive: Youths wearing hoodies and masks smashed through the reinforced glass at Millbank

The glass frontage was smashed and protesters swarmed seven floors up to the roof, from where a fire extinguisher was hurled down at police below.

Effigies of David Cameron and Nick Clegg were burnt to cheers from a roaring mob.

At least 14 casualties were taken to hospital, seven of them police officers, and 35 demonstrators were arrested.

Later Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson admitted his force had failed to predict the trouble, with just 20 officers holding back surging crowds at the main flashpoint.

He said: ‘It’s not acceptable. It is an embarrassment for London and for us.’

Student leaders condemned the violence. National Union of Students president Aaron Porter described it as ‘despicable’.

Going wild: Young students trashing the entrance to Millbank Tower

No control: Protesters used furniture to smash windows at Millbank

Unprepared? Injured police officers are led away from the clashes







He blamed the trouble on a small minority who he believed had arranged it beforehand.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: ‘I am appalled that a small minority have today shamefully abused their right to protest.

‘This is intolerable and all those involved will be pursued and they will face the full force of the law.

‘The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has assured me that there will be a vigorous post incident investigation. He will also be reviewing police planning and response.’

The protest of 50,000 students, lecturers and supporters – including at least one Lib Dem MP – started peacefully with a march from Whitehall past Downing Street and Parliament.

But it turned violent when demonstrators halted outside Millbank Tower, home to Tory HQ, facing the Thames.

Even though the march had been publicised for weeks, Scotland Yard had policed the event with just 225 officers.

The 20 officers lining the route at Millbank faced an impossible task of trying to hold back thousands of demonstrators.

Officers watched helplessly as protesters charged the entrance lobby and caused hundreds of thousands of pounds of damage by using chairs and fire extinguishers to smash the glass frontage, effectively opening up the atrium to the entire crowd.

Anger: Thousands gathered outside Tory Party headquarters

Demonstrators waving a flag from the roof 30 Millbank after storming the building

Riot police standing guard inside the wrecked entrance to Millbank Tower

One policewoman with a bleeding head wound was led away by two colleagues.

Troublemakers stood on tables, ripped fire alarms from their fittings, pulled down ceiling panels and sprayed graffiti.

They made their way to the roof, quickly followed by dozens more who flooded into the building.

A veteran of the Leftist anarchist group Class War, which has a history of violent clashes with police, was spotted while police sources said animal rights activists were also present. One bearded man in his 30s was using a loud hailer to incite the crowd.

Graffiti was scrawled on buildings along Millbank and a war memorial was defaced with the words ‘Fight back’.

Many students condemned the troublemakers but some said violence was an acceptable form of protest.

One student from King’s College said that 450 Cambridge students had attended the protest and she believed some from her college were on the roof.

Demonstrators chanted 'Tory scum' and daubed 'Tory pigs' on the walls of Millbank in protest

Demonstrators clashed with police as they clambered through a smashed window at Millbank

On top of the world: Protesters on the roof of Millbank, home of Tory party headquarters

‘It was students from King’s who made the effigies of Cameron and Clegg. It’s been fantastic. The atmosphere is amazing and everybody is really nice.

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‘The majority is a completely non-violent protest. I’m not really worried about violence against property or objects, smashing buildings is completely fine, it’s a great image of our anger. I’ve got no problem with that at all as long as nobody gets hurt.’

The volatile situation started to calm down at about 4.30pm when the Metropolitan Police sent in hundreds of riot officers, who drove protesters away from the building.

There was concern that some would be pushed into one of several bonfires started in the crowd and police made efforts to disperse the crowd.

By 7pm, police began to let the several hundred protesters cordoned on the road in front of Millbank Tower out in ones and twos.

Vandals: Youths took hammers and sticks to the glass of Millbank Tower

Flashpoint: Thousands of students outside Millbank Tower yesterday afternoon

Chaos: A protester lights a flare outside the besieged entrance to Tory Party headquarters

It is not known whether there will be more trouble tomorrow. An unsolicited text received by a student at a 6th form student in London read: 'No Student should attend School/ College/Uni Tomorrow!!! Instead participate in the march for Student Loans and EMA to continue funding.



'Even if you don't want to join in with the march just don't attend School/ College/Uni. Leave the class rooms empty! Let them know that the young people of today too mean business!!! This is our futures, they shouldn't be allowed to scam us like this!!'

Inside the severely damaged lobby of the tower, a group of around 25 protesters could be seen surrounded by police.

Officers led them down from various floors of the seven-storey building where they were found after running inside at the peak of the riot.

Anger: Students protesting against tuition fees rises in Westminster on Wednesday

Peaceful: Students on the official march yesterday

Conservative Party staff remained in their offices throughout with chairman Baroness Warsi among those inside.

The protesters in the Tory HQ building and on the roof released a statement which said: ‘We oppose all cuts and we stand in solidarity with public sector workers, and all poor, disabled, elderly and working people.

‘This is only the beginning of the resistance to the destruction of our education system and public services.’

Under the Government’s proposals, which represent the most radical shake-up of student funding for decades, the fee cap will be raised to £6,000, with universities able to charge up to £9,000 – triple the current cap – in ‘exceptional circumstances’.