Police officers injured at tuition protest
By Tony Grew - 9th December 2010
12 police and 43 protesters have been injured in violent scenes in Parliament Square and around central London.
22 arrests were made.
Students and others have been protesting about the government's plans to triple tuition fees - the measure passed in the Commons just before 6pm.
In a statement the Met police said they are "extremely disappointed with the actions of many protestors who from a very early stage deviated from the agreed route".
"There were people on this protest who came with no intention other than one of violence and commit disorder."
The Met added that officers faced "a significant level of violence including fences, missiles and flares have been thrown at police".
"The mounted branch have been used legitimately to provide essential re-enforcement to police officers who were coming under attack."
At least 22 people have been arrested - on charges including assault on police, drunk and disorderly and violent disorder.
The police defended their use of "a full containment around Parliament Square ... that allows the young and vulnerable and those not involved in committing offences to leave in small numbers via Whitehall".
Later a car carrying the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall was attacked by protesters. A window of the vehicle was broken and it was doused in paint but the Royals were not injured.
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