Student protest takes a violent turn at University of Sydney

Dramatic scenes took over the library at the University of Sydney on Wednesday night, as a police forcibly removed a group of students who were taking part in a protest.

About 30 students had gathered on campus to protest the coalition’s proposal to deregulate university fees ahead of an appearance by federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham.

Video shows the crowd being forcibly removed from Fisher Library by police, with some students claiming they were shoved and had their hair pulled.

SRC General Secretary Georgia Mantle told the university’s news site Honi Soit police used excessive force to remove the group.

“[The officers] put me in a wristlock and pulled my hair and lifted me up by the ankles,” she said.

SRC Education officer Liam Carrigan said the reaction from the riot squad was unnecessary.

"People were nearly trampled. Students were heavily traumatised by the police action,” he said.

The group claimed an Aboriginal woman was “viciously assaulted” in the incident.

Police officers and riot squad were on standby early at the event and said the students were removed for “disturbing the peace”.