Three men charged after Birmingham University protests turn sour

A total of 14 people were arrested after the sit-in protests, which saw smoke bombs set off and a 50ft banner tied to the landmark clock tower by campaigners including Defend Education Birmingham.

Around 300 people were involved in what started as a peaceful sit-in protest on Wednesday afternoon.

But police were called to the Edgbaston site at around 5pm following reports of demonstrators breaking down doors, hurling smoke bombs in corridors and allegations of assaults against campus staff.

> Video captured on the day, courtesy of Redbrick

A total of 14 people were arrested, nine men and five women aged from 18-24, on suspicious of offences including aggravated trespass, criminal damage and assault.

Despite the arrests, Defend Education sympathisers continued to stage a sit-in protest at the university today - saying they would not stop until the university met with them to discuss its demands. Thursday marked the ninth day consecutive of the sit-in.

Several of those arrested were from Birmingham but others hailed from Cambridge, Nottingham, Leicester, London, Leeds, Rugby and Buckinghamshire.

Five men and five women have been released on police bail pending further enquiries.

Defend Education Birmingham claims it is fighting for free education and for staff to be paid the Living Wage. Campaigners have alleged they were 'kettled' by police officers - when large crowds are surrounded by officers during large-scale protests and only allowed to leave with police permission although West Midlands Police rejected the suggestion.

The group also claimed one student was hospitalised as a result of injuries he suffered during yesterday's protest.

Freelance journalist Ben Jackson took to Twitter yesterday evening to post photos of the trouble.

Birmingham Police Superintendent Lee Kendrick was at the university site on Wednesday. He said: "This may well have been billed as a peaceful protest but it escalated into a serious public order incident - a criminal investigation has been launched and anyone found to have acted unlawfully will be punished."

A spokesperson for Birmingham University said they had 'no choice' but to call in police support. She added: "The actions of Defend Education Birmingham, a group not affiliated to the Guild of Students or in any way representative of our student body, included defacing buildings and property, throwing smoke bombs and fireworks, smashing down doors, damaging buildings including Aston Webb and the Old Joe clock tower, and injuring staff.

"Given the serious nature of their actions, the University had no choice but to ask the police for assistance in restoring order and protecting students, staff and university property.

"Whilst peaceful protest is part of university life, the University cannot tolerate behaviour that causes harm to individuals, damage to property or significant disruption to our university community."

Supt Kendrick also countered accusations circulating on social media accusing police of "kettling" demonstrators.

He added: "We strongly refute any suggestions of containing or 'kettling' a lawful protest. Police were called to the site by the university as a result of demonstrators breaking into buildings, damaging property and assaulting staff. The suspects were detained by police and required to give their details ahead of the pending criminal investigation - any that refused were arrested."