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| Student fees protest: Cameron condemns royal attack | Student fees protest: Cameron condemns royal attack |
| (14 days later) | |
| Lessons must be learned from a security lapse which allowed protesters to smash the Prince of Wales' car window, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. | Lessons must be learned from a security lapse which allowed protesters to smash the Prince of Wales' car window, Prime Minister David Cameron has said. |
| Prince Charles, who was in a Rolls-Royce on his way to the theatre with Camilla, said he "totally understood" the difficulties police faced. | Prince Charles, who was in a Rolls-Royce on his way to the theatre with Camilla, said he "totally understood" the difficulties police faced. |
| The Met Police is to launch a major criminal investigation into student disorder in London over the last month. | The Met Police is to launch a major criminal investigation into student disorder in London over the last month. |
| MPs pushed through plans to raise the maximum tuition fee level to £9,000. | MPs pushed through plans to raise the maximum tuition fee level to £9,000. |
| But 21 Lib Dems voted against the proposals, slashing the government's majority. | But 21 Lib Dems voted against the proposals, slashing the government's majority. |
| 'Thugs' | 'Thugs' |
| Thousands of students had gathered in London ahead of the vote before the demonstration turned violent. | Thousands of students had gathered in London ahead of the vote before the demonstration turned violent. |
| Protesters largely took over Parliament Square and pressed against police lines in front of the Houses of Parliament. | Protesters largely took over Parliament Square and pressed against police lines in front of the Houses of Parliament. |
| Mounted police were used to control crowds, at one point charging a group of protesters. Hundreds were contained on Westminster Bridge for a time by officers. | Mounted police were used to control crowds, at one point charging a group of protesters. Hundreds were contained on Westminster Bridge for a time by officers. |
| Protesters threw flares, sticks, snooker balls and paint balls, according to police. After nightfall, riot police forced back protesters who were smashing windows at the Treasury and the Supreme Court. | Protesters threw flares, sticks, snooker balls and paint balls, according to police. After nightfall, riot police forced back protesters who were smashing windows at the Treasury and the Supreme Court. |
| Then at 1915 GMT, protesters launched an attack on the royal couple's car as it passed along a busy Regent Street. The Rolls Royce was kicked, splashed with paint and a window was smashed to chants of "off with their heads". | Then at 1915 GMT, protesters launched an attack on the royal couple's car as it passed along a busy Regent Street. The Rolls Royce was kicked, splashed with paint and a window was smashed to chants of "off with their heads". |
| Met Police chief Sir Paul Stephenson called the attack shocking and said the couple should be commended for their fortitude. | Met Police chief Sir Paul Stephenson called the attack shocking and said the couple should be commended for their fortitude. |
| He also said the route was thoroughly checked up to the last minute and his officers had shown "commendable restraint". | He also said the route was thoroughly checked up to the last minute and his officers had shown "commendable restraint". |
| He said royal protection officers were put in a difficult position by the unpredictability of the "thugs" and said there would be an internal investigation. | He said royal protection officers were put in a difficult position by the unpredictability of the "thugs" and said there would be an internal investigation. |
| Protest organisers from the Education Activist Network said there had been no call to attack the prince's car. | Protest organisers from the Education Activist Network said there had been no call to attack the prince's car. |
| Mr Cameron called it a "very regrettable lapse of security" and said lessons must be learned. | Mr Cameron called it a "very regrettable lapse of security" and said lessons must be learned. |
| "Let's remember that this was not the fault of the police," he added. | "Let's remember that this was not the fault of the police," he added. |
| "Responsibility for smashing property, for violence, lies with the people that perpetrate that violence and I want to see them arrested and punished." | "Responsibility for smashing property, for violence, lies with the people that perpetrate that violence and I want to see them arrested and punished." |
| Clarence House has refused to comment on reports that the Duchess was poked with a stick, but did say the royal couple were unharmed and attended the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium as scheduled. | Clarence House has refused to comment on reports that the Duchess was poked with a stick, but did say the royal couple were unharmed and attended the Royal Variety Performance at the London Palladium as scheduled. |
| A former head of royal protection, Dai Davies, said he was surprised by the apparent lack of strategy. | A former head of royal protection, Dai Davies, said he was surprised by the apparent lack of strategy. |
| "One of the principles of protection is to have alternative routes and I would have expected there to be at least three different routes," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "One of the principles of protection is to have alternative routes and I would have expected there to be at least three different routes," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| London Mayor Boris Johnson said it was regrettable the heir to the throne could be surrounded by agitators and that people's first instinct was to blame the police. | London Mayor Boris Johnson said it was regrettable the heir to the throne could be surrounded by agitators and that people's first instinct was to blame the police. |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband joined the condemnation, saying the attack was "totally unacceptable" and the wider vandalism was inexcusable. | Labour leader Ed Miliband joined the condemnation, saying the attack was "totally unacceptable" and the wider vandalism was inexcusable. |
| Students have criticised police tactics, particularly of holding demonstrators in a small area, known as "kettling". | Students have criticised police tactics, particularly of holding demonstrators in a small area, known as "kettling". |
| Simon Hardy, of the National Campaign against Fees and Cuts, said: "The violence we witnessed yesterday from the police, before anything had been done by the protesters, is typical of how the Met has responded to these demonstrations. | Simon Hardy, of the National Campaign against Fees and Cuts, said: "The violence we witnessed yesterday from the police, before anything had been done by the protesters, is typical of how the Met has responded to these demonstrations. |
| "They turned up in riot gear, with horses, batons and shields. They said they wanted people to leave to Victoria Embankment and then 'kettled' them and then started beating people. | "They turned up in riot gear, with horses, batons and shields. They said they wanted people to leave to Victoria Embankment and then 'kettled' them and then started beating people. |
| "Anyone who tries to resist is then told they are being violent." | "Anyone who tries to resist is then told they are being violent." |
| But the Met Police Federation said officers acted with professionalism and selflessness and that, if they had not, the consequences would have been "unthinkable". | But the Met Police Federation said officers acted with professionalism and selflessness and that, if they had not, the consequences would have been "unthinkable". |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating a claim that 20-year-old Middlesex University student Alfie Meadows suffered serious head injuries after being hit on the head with a police truncheon. The Met Police referred the incident to the commission, which is appealing for witnesses, early on Friday. | The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating a claim that 20-year-old Middlesex University student Alfie Meadows suffered serious head injuries after being hit on the head with a police truncheon. The Met Police referred the incident to the commission, which is appealing for witnesses, early on Friday. |
| The IPCC said it received three further complaints about the Met Police at Thursday's protests. | The IPCC said it received three further complaints about the Met Police at Thursday's protests. |
| Further developments on Friday included: | Further developments on Friday included: |
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| Only 28 Lib Dem MPs - fewer than half - voted for the government's plans for tuition fees. Six Conservative MPs voted against. Three ministerial aides resigned. | Only 28 Lib Dem MPs - fewer than half - voted for the government's plans for tuition fees. Six Conservative MPs voted against. Three ministerial aides resigned. |
| The package of measures will see fees rising to an upper limit of £9,000 per year - with universities charging more than £6,000 per year told to protect access for poorer students. | The package of measures will see fees rising to an upper limit of £9,000 per year - with universities charging more than £6,000 per year told to protect access for poorer students. |