University of Manchester student speaks of terror after group are 'dragged' out of building in early hours

A University of Manchester student has described the 'terrifying' moment bailiffs 'manhandled' them out a building following weeks of protests.

Students in the 'UoM Rent Strike' group have been occupying the Simon building on Oxford Road since February 13 as part of an ongoing protest over rent costs and living conditions in university-owned accommodation. In the week prior to that, they took over a further three buildings on the campus before vacating them, and this week they also staged a 'sit-in' at the John Owens building and protested outside the Board of Governors.

They are demanding a 30 per cent rent reduction, a rent freeze and a cost-of-living payment of £1,500, among other things. Last week university bosses began action to remove the occupiers from the Simon building, issuing court papers.

READ MORE: University of Manchester students forcibly 'dragged' out of campus building after weeks-long strike

They said the action was illegal and was causing disruption to other students and staff. On Monday, the High Court granted a possession order for the whole of the university's South Campus with notice being served on the occupiers.

However, the group said on social media that they had 'no intention to leave the occupied Simon building until forced to by bailiffs'. They said that at around 5.20am on Wednesday, a group of bailiffs entered the Simon Building and 'began forcefully removing student occupiers'.

They said bailiffs arrived with 'no warning' and, after occupiers refused to leave of their own accord, 'forcefully dragged and carried them out the building'. Pictures and video shared by the @rentstrikeUoM Twitter account show people being lifted and removed by workers in black uniform.

One occupier, a