Fees: Nine Police Injured As Students March On Westminster Over Rising Tuition Fees | Politics | Sky News



Nine police officers have been hurt, at least eight seriously, as violence breaks out among protesters marching in central London over plans to treble university fees.


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One suffered neck injuries, and a mounted officer's leg was badly hurt after they were thrown from his horse as the clashes in central London escalated.
Sky's Tom Parmenter said the scene at the Treasury building was "extremely volatile", with men trying to smash toughened-glass windows, egged on by hundreds of cheering bystanders.
There are angry scenes in Parliament Square with pockets of protesters involved in a stand-off with riot officers.
Police are responding by baton charging the crowd and reinforcements have arrived.
One student told Sky News people were being injured and knocked unconscious as people tried to get out of the area.
Earlier, flares, paint bombs, snooker balls and other missiles were thrown at police.
A handful of protesters climbed onto a statue of Winston Churchill and daubed it with graffiti and dozens have surrounded a large bonfire.
Demonstrators have smashed down metal barriers as police struggle to contain the violence.
Police attempt to fend off protesters in Parliament Square
So far, 22 protesters have been injured and nine people have been arrested.
Officers have tried to maintain control by keeping demonstrators inside Parliament Square.
But Sky's Mark White, at the scene, said police had been surrounded by a "massive influx" of protesters from Whitehall.
He said: "This is dangerous not just for protesters caught in the middle of this, but also for police who are surrounded by protesters on at least three sides."
Superintendent Julia Pendry criticised protesters who were "intent on causing violent disorder", urged them to "calm down" and said police had responded "proportionately" to the violence.
"The Metropolitan Police Service is extremely disappointed with the behaviour of protesters today," she said.
"It is absolutely obvious that people have come to London today intent on causing violent disorder - not coming to peacefully protest - and that can be proven by the number of people who have deviated from the agreed route."
Protesters try to break police line in Parliament Square after breaking through barriers
She said protesters in the containment area would be allowed to leave along Whitehall if they agreed to go peacefully. However, officers were coming under "severe" attack whenever they attempted to release people.
But one student said: "We have been to every exit and all the police are telling us we cannot leave.
"There are gangs of youths randomly attacking people with sticks but the police are doing nothing about it."

Demonstrators were angry at coalition proposals - approved by MPs this evening in Parliament - that will see students being forced to pay up to £9,000 per year.
The word "No" has been daubed in large letters with red paint on the grass in Parliament Square.
Today's march in the capital began at University London Union, in Malet Street, at 12pm.
Demonstrators earlier streamed through Russell Square, Holborn, Kingsway, Aldwych, Strand, Trafalgar Square, Admirals Arch, Horse Guards Road, Great George Street into Parliament Square hoping to get to Whitehall.
Police Tactics At Fees Protest


From there, the crowds dispersed along Victoria Embankment.
Just before 2pm, a smoke bomb or flare was thrown over the lines of police vans and filled the air with red smoke near the Carriage Gates entrance to Parliament.
The violence began to escalate at around 3pm.
Officials, activists and members of some of the country's biggest trade unions joined the march.
Glen Oglaza on Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg
Trade union banners were earlier evident among the crowd including Unison, the Rail Maritime and Transport (RMT) union and the Public and Commercial Services union.
Other protests have been taken part across the country.
A march in Brighton, East Sussex, passed off peacefully with only one arrest for a public order offence after someone failed to remove an offensive banner from display.