Police called to Manchester University as student demonstrators occupy rooms in pro-Palestine protest

Officers arrived at the Samuel Alexander building on Oxford Road after around 70 students arrived at classrooms to protest
-Credit: (Image: Submitted)


Police were called to the University of Manchester on Monday (October 7) as student demonstrators occupied rooms in a pro-Palestine protest.

Officers arrived at the Samuel Alexander building on Oxford Road after around 70 students arrived at classrooms to protest against the establishment's ties with BAE systems and Israeli universities they say are built on occupied land.

The move was taken amid the university’s hosting of the The World Academic Summit, set to take place from October 7 to 9, with senior academics and leadership figures reportedly attending.

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The Manchester Leftist Action group said students were 'taking action against their universities' ties' and that they planned to travel to Manchester to 'protest Vice-Chancellors and university leadership as they attend a summit on campus.'

The move was taken amid calls for the university to 'cut ties to Israel' with demonstrators vowing to 'continue to take action until their institutions divest'.

In a video clip shared by the PA news agency, one student, whose face is covered, called on the university to sever ties with Israel and 'do what's morally right' by putting an ethical research policy in place.

Officers arrived at the Samuel Alexander building on Oxford Road
Officers arrived at the Samuel Alexander building on Oxford Road -Credit:Submitted

A group of up to 70 University of Manchester students occupied classroom's in the Samuel Alexander building on Monday. The university said the group 'attempted to disrupt the opening' of the event on campus, prompting police to be called.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers were called to the scene to assist university security staff with a group of around 30 demonstrators. The group were moved on without issue and no arrests were made, the Manchester Evening News understands.

A University spokesperson said: “A group of protestors attempted to disrupt the opening of an event on campus this morning and the police were called. After a short delay, attendees were able to gain access to the building.”