UN official criticises LSE over treatment of activists

The London School of Economics has been criticised by a UN rapporteur and accused of Islamophobia after alleging that students behind a proPalestine demonstration in July had prompted fears of a repeat of the 7 July 2005 terrorist attacks.

- Daniel Boffey

A total of seven students, four of them female, have been put under "precautionary measures", restricting their access to the university's campus, over allegations relating to a noisy protest on 7 July in the atrium of the LSE student services centre.

In letters informing the group of the action and the potential for further disciplinary measures, the university said that "several witnesses, including security guards, and members of staff, expressed concerns, fear and distress" over the students' conduct.

One staff member quoted by the university claimed the demonstration had led "many in the room" to fear a "physical attack". This feeling was said to have been "heightened" by its coincidental timing on the 19th anniversary of the bombings.

The students, who had been calling for the LSE to divest from companies that work with the Israeli military, deny the claims, which they say have been used to stifle free expression.