Rebellious London: students protest against increased tuition fees

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).

Scotland Yard officers were equipped with cameras to identify the instigators. During earlier riots, troublemakers were revealed only thanks to personal photos.

The protesters in London chose the Treasury Building at Whitehall, close to Downing Street, the residence of the prime minister.

At first protesters set fire to their own banners…

… then they threw flagstaffs, bottles and smoke grenades at police.

Despite attempts by the demonstrators to make their way to the Treasury, police did not use force.

After several hours of resistance, police cordoned off the crowd from both sides of the streets, closing all the exits.

Police continued pushing the crowd without letting anyone out of the circle.

Some marchers tried to stage a sit-in protest.

Only a few of them were able to escape the cordoned area.

Police gave water to the students. The smartest students improvised home-made toilets.

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.

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.