More than 40 violent ¡°shock groups¡± set up to keep tabs on student activities are said to be operating across Mexico¡¯s largest university¡¯s campuses, according to Mexico City government officials.

In the wake of more student attacks, officials from Mexico City¡¯s National Autonomous University of Mexico (Unam) have warned that so-called ¡°porros¡± (hooligans) are often disguised as student associations connected to the university. In fact, they work under the command of rogue university staff or politicians and are connected to Mexico¡¯s longstanding history of gang-related politics, local news reports explain.

The revelations follow a series of protests conducted by students this month over a lack of security on campus. A small demonstration on 3 September turned violent when around 40 people arrived with sharp weapons, sticks, stones and petrol bombs.

Fourteen protestors ¨C several believed to be minors ¨C were injured, including one serious stabbing and one person who lost an ear.

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In response to the attack, tens of thousands of students from various institutions across the region took part in wider demonstrations, calling on Enrique Graue, Unam¡¯s rector, to take action to report the perpetrators and secure the university site.

The security of the University City site ¨C which is autonomous from state or political control ¨C has been heavily contested in recent months. In February last year, two students were shot and killed on campus, and there has since been a series of other violent incidents.

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Issuing a statement in light on the most recent events, Professor Graue condemned the porros¡¯ activity as ¡°barbarous and brutal¡±.

Evidence has been passed on to Mexico City police, he added, to assist in their ongoing investigations.

rachael.pells@timeshighereducation.com