A University of Sussex PhD student has denied being one of the ringleaders of the violence which marred an anti-cuts demo.
The Evening Standard said Luke Cooper, an associate tutor in the university's School of International Relations, spearheaded Wednesday's protest at the Conservative Party headquarters which erupted into violence.
Dozens of people smashed their way into Millbank Tower where they lit fires and threw missiles from the roof during the incident.
The newspaper said Mr Cooper, who is a member of the left-wing group Revolution, is an “anarchist” who “plotted” the action.
But yesterday Mr Cooper said he did not even enter the building - and denied being a “ringleader” of the attack.
Mr Cooper said the quotes attributed to him were “libellous” and that he had spoken to the university about the issue.
About 500 Sussex students and staff, including lecturers, took part in the protest against massive cuts to education and proposals to increase tuition fees.
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