British students and pupils held mass rallies on November 24 to protest against plans by the government to increase annual tuition fees. Starting in 2012, the minimum fees will be increased to 6,000 pounds ($9,400) and universities will be allowed to increase them to 9,000 pounds ($14,000).
© RIA Novosti . Elena PahomovaBritish students and pupils held mass rallies on November 24 to protest against plans by the government to increase annual tuition fees. Starting in 2012, the minimum fees will be increased to 6,000 pounds ($9,400) and universities will be allowed to increase them to 9,000 pounds ($14,000).
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/40/161494058_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_a60c8325ea773fb48d4cb70c31c21b0c.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova
British students and pupils held mass rallies on November 24 to protest against plans by the government to increase annual tuition fees. Starting in 2012, the minimum fees will be increased to 6,000 pounds ($9,400) and universities will be allowed to increase them to 9,000 pounds ($14,000).
© RIA NovostiScotland Yard officers were equipped with cameras to identify the instigators. During earlier riots, troublemakers were revealed only thanks to personal photos.
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/40/161494076_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_82ffafc0756d41e140fb32116a6447f9.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti
Scotland Yard officers were equipped with cameras to identify the instigators. During earlier riots, troublemakers were revealed only thanks to personal photos.
© RIA Novosti . Elena PahomovaThe protesters in London chose the Treasury Building at Whitehall, close to Downing Street, the residence of the prime minister.
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/40/161494092_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_96659c9890e8e99a06c0e89888932149.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova
The protesters in London chose the Treasury Building at Whitehall, close to Downing Street, the residence of the prime minister.
© RIA Novosti . Elena PahomovaAt first protesters set fire to their own banners…
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/41/161494106_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_fc0ba7b8a9884e678eb9f818221630df.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova
At first protesters set fire to their own banners…
© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova… then they threw flagstaffs, bottles and smoke grenades at police.
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/41/161494120_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_4b16772aab1b0dc97235185c44408025.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova
… then they threw flagstaffs, bottles and smoke grenades at police.
© RIA Novosti . Elena PahomovaDespite attempts by the demonstrators to make their way to the Treasury, police did not use force.
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/41/161494135_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_9a3f58c00c7126be6a185d2ae19adbe2.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova
Despite attempts by the demonstrators to make their way to the Treasury, police did not use force.
© RIA Novosti . Elena PahomovaAfter several hours of resistance, police cordoned off the crowd from both sides of the streets, closing all the exits.
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/41/161494149_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_58d550df81747692d080457a807c1698.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova
After several hours of resistance, police cordoned off the crowd from both sides of the streets, closing all the exits.
© RIA Novosti . Elena PahomovaPolice continued pushing the crowd without letting anyone out of the circle.
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/41/161494176_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_7eec2d29e91444cabf24a3e936bab2c8.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova
Police continued pushing the crowd without letting anyone out of the circle.
© RIA Novosti . Elena PahomovaSome marchers tried to stage a sit-in protest.
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/41/161494198_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_d376beac6b1e5985b5395ec9e4db62c1.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova
Some marchers tried to stage a sit-in protest.
© RIA Novosti . Elena PahomovaOnly a few of them were able to escape the cordoned area.
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/42/161494232_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_3359483c8adc1d0dd4576c029dea84ba.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova
Only a few of them were able to escape the cordoned area.
© RIA Novosti . Elena PahomovaPolice gave water to the students. The smartest students improvised home-made toilets.
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/42/161494259_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_06bcd0d0762ca323c6d20afdff569092.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova
Police gave water to the students. The smartest students improvised home-made toilets.
© RIA Novosti . Elena PahomovaThe students and pupils who were blocked on the street faced another problem. The temperature in London was near freezing, especially in the evening. Within minutes the protesters made fires near Whitehall and soon the whole area was engulfed by the pungent smell of burning plastic bottles, posters and plastic fences.
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/42/161494282_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_e296847ae0de8d36c61e3fee9f0c2ff6.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova
The students and pupils who were blocked on the street faced another problem. The temperature in London was near freezing, especially in the evening. Within minutes the protesters made fires near Whitehall and soon the whole area was engulfed by the pungent smell of burning plastic bottles, posters and plastic fences.
© RIA Novosti . Elena PahomovaThe crowd dispersed very slowly; police first released young women. Only late at night the tired and sleepy marchers were let out in small groups from the cordoned-off street.
![Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/16149/42/161494297_0:0:0:0_600x0_80_0_1_cf91368e2b14d77a3ff9a4ed25626209.jpg)
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© RIA Novosti . Elena Pahomova
The crowd dispersed very slowly; police first released young women. Only late at night the tired and sleepy marchers were let out in small groups from the cordoned-off street.