Tuition fee protests turn violent as angry students smash windows in Westminster

Anger: Students protesting against tuition fees rises in Westminster today 

Students went on the rampage today as a huge protest against the coalition's controversial move to hike tuition fees turned violent.
Around 50,000 students and teachers travelled to London for a march and rally in Westminster against the Government's plans to raise fees from £3,290-a-year to up to £9,000.
But peaceful protests descended into riots shortly after 1pm as many left the planned route and headed to Tory party headquarters at Millbank.
Hundreds made it into the lobby of Millbank Tower next door, throwing smoke bombs, before youths dressed in hoodies and balaclavas smashed through reinforced windows.
Two hours later, the entrance was overrun as riot police fought to regain control. Several protesters and officers were being treated for injuries.

The Prime Minister, in Beijing, risked sparking yet more fury by telling students there that the changes in the UK would mean fees for foreign students won't rise so quickly.
'Foreign students will still pay a significant amount of money but we should be able to keep that growth under control,' he said at Beijing University.
He told students that charges for foreign students had to date been hiked as a way of 'keeping them down on our domestic students'.


 With scores of protesters on the roof, police were also warning about concrete being thrown to the ground below. Reports claimed a ceiling had been brought down by the crowds.

Police battle to hold back hundreds of rioting students outside Millbank Tower

Hundreds also made it inside 30 Millbank, where the Tories are based - many chanting: 'Nick Clegg, we know you, you're a ****ing Tory too.'
Protesters used chairs as they smashed and kicked their way through the glass frontage, effectively opening up the whole atrium to the crowd.
Police appeared to have abandoned efforts to prevent the occupation, letting scores of demonstrators surge inside. They smashed CCTV cameras with sticks and stood on tables. 

Protesters trying to grab a policeman's helmet outside Millbank, the home of Tory party HQ
MI5 headquarters at Thames House nearby was sealed with heavy metal doors and police put on guard at rear exits in case the violence spread.

Elsewhere, around 100 students broke away to protest outside the Business Department.

A small group wearing balaclavas and hoods smashed the reinforced glass of the famous building

Scores of police had to move in to stop students - carrying placards and chanting 'Tory scum' - storming the building. Sticks and bottles were pelted at the doors. One man was hauled from the crowd outside Parliament, wrestled to the ground and handcuffed before being carried away.
A policeman with a bloody wound to the head was led away by his fellow officers as the protest continued. 

Fees row a student wearing a mask celebrates after windows are smashed at Millbank Tower

A police officer looked bloodied as he contained protesters

A student wearing a costume made from bank notes near Parliament.
'The overwhelming majority of staff and students on the march came here to to send a clear and peaceful message to the politicians. The actions of a minority, out of 50,000 people, is regrettable.'

In a statement, the group behind the protests warned: 'This is only the beginning'.
It said: 'We stand against the cuts, in solidarity with all the poor, elderly, disabled and working people affected.
'We are against all cuts and the marketisation of education. We are occupying the roof of Tory HQ to show we are against the Tory system of attacking the poor and helping the rich.'
As tensions rose outside the Commons, at PMQs Nick Clegg - who was standing in while David Cameron is in China - was savaged over the U-turn.

Around 50,000 students descended on Westminster this morning for a march and then a rally about the move to hike fees from £3,290-a-year to up to £9,000.
There is abject fury that the Lib Dems have ditched their pre-election pledge to scrap all tuition fees and signed up to the increase. Placards accused them of being 'traitors'.
Students from towns and cities across the UK travelled to London to take part in what is the biggest demonstration yet against the coalition.
National Union of Students Aaron Porter warned the Lib Dems would lose the support of a generation of young people if they refused to back down.
'MPs must now think twice before going ahead with this outrageous policy,' he said.


Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman likened Mr Clegg to a student who had met a 'dodgy bloke' in Freshers' Week and done something he will regret.
She claimed he had been 'led astray' by the Tories. The deputy PM insisted the plans were progressive and unavoidable, and accused Labour of offering no alternative.