British students protest police brutality

British students have held rallies in several cities to protest brutal attacks by police against anti-fees campaigners at the University of Warwick.

The protests erupted on Thursday following the release of a video footage showing police using CS gas and Taser to break up a student protest at the Coventry campus.

Police say they will launch an investigation into reports that officers used “disproportionate force” during the Wednesday protest at the University of Warwick.

“We are aware of videos of the protest being circulated on social media sites, which will be examined,” said Coventry Police Commander Ch Supt Claire Bell.

A formal statement released by the campaign group Warwick For Free Education on Wednesday said that protesters were “punched, pushed onto the floor, dragged, rammed by their throat into the wall and kneed in the face.”

“At least 20 students were assaulted by university security and police,” the statement read.

Warwick Students Union said that based on video footage online “we absolutely believe that disproportionate force was used against protesters”.

The government of UK Prime Minister David Cameron has announced a rise in the fees for higher education.

More nationwide days of action are expected to be observed by students later in December over the fee hikes.