Oxford University offices on LOCKDOWN after pro-Palestinian protesters stage sit-in

The University of Oxford offices have been locked down after pro-Palestinian protesters staged a sit-in at Wellington Square.

Oxford Action for Palestine organised the sit-in earier today and demanded a meeting with the university to review its policies.

A large number of officers from Thames Valley Police have arrived at the scene.

Several members of Oxford Action for Palestine were arrested during the latest protest.

A spokesperson for OX4P said: “Today, Oxford students staged a peaceful sit-in to demand that the university meet with us after two weeks of non-response.

“Instead of engaging in dialogue with her students, the vice chancellor chose to evacuate the building, place it on lockdown, and call the police to make arrests.

“We demand the administration meet with us to negotiate immediately.”

At least five police cars were parked on Wellington Square

Another police vehicle entered the building through the back gate on Little Clarendon Street.

The building is in lockdown, with a piece of paper at the door of the offices stating “We are in lockdown – no access”.

Other banners include a number of demands, such as: “Disclose all finances”, “Divest from Israeli genocide, apartheid, and occupation”, and “Support Palestinian-led rebuilding of education in Gaza”.

A final demand reads: “Amnesty for all involved.

OX4P published a series of posts on social media about today’s protest.

A statement said: “Emergency: mass arrests are happening now at our sit-in at Wellington Square! Mobilise now for support!”

In an earlier post, the group stated: “We will not leave the Administration offices in Wellington Square until the University agrees to negotiate on the preconditions we have already requested”.

A large encampment was also set up outside Pitt Rivers Museum where students have been staging a protest for the past two and a half weeks.

Tents were erected outside the building and declared a “liberated zone” by protesters supporting the plight of the Palestinian people.

Pro-Palestinian protests and camps are spreading across British universities.

They initially became popular across campuses in the United States.

Other British universities witnessing an increase in the number of protests include Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Leeds, Warwick, Swansea, Bristol and UCL.