Britain Fresh wave of camps set up at universities

A fresh wave of student demonstrations and encampments was under way at UK universities yesterday in protest over the war in Gaza, after violent scenes on campuses in the US where hundreds have been arrested in a crackdown by police.

- Sally Weale 

Protests were due to take place in at least six universities yesterday, including Sheffield, Bristol, Leeds and Newcastle, with others expected to follow suit, in a show of solidarity with Palestinians.

Students are also calling for their individual universities to divest from arms firms that supply to Israel and in some cases sever links with universities in Israel.

While the focus of the protest movement in the UK in recent months has been on mass marches organised in London and other cities, students have staged their own protests with occupations of university buildings and demonstrations, which have been on a smaller scale and have attracted less attention.

However, violent scenes from Columbia University and other US campuses have triggered renewed anger among UK students and a sense of shared solidarity.

David Maguire, the vice-chancellor of the University of East Anglia, said protests at UK universities had been generally peaceful but, asked about events in the US, he agreed "it could happen here" and said university leaders were in regular contact.