Nottingham Trent University: Two men arrested after video allegedly showing racial abuse shared online

The 18-year-olds are in custody after footage emerged of racist chants in university halls

Two men have been arrested after a Nottingham Trent University student posted video footage of racist chants in her student halls.

A black student captured on video two males chanting “We hate the blacks” outside her bedroom door.

The footage – which includes chants of “Sign the Brexit papers” and other racist slurs – was widely shared when it was posted on Twitter.

Nottinghamshire Police have now arrested two 18-year-olds in connection with racially aggravated public order offences.

And the “suspected perpetrators” have been suspended by Nottingham Trent University following a full investigation.

Rufaro Chisango, who posted the video on Wednesday night, tweeted: “Words cannot describe how sad this makes me feel, in 2018 people think this is still acceptable.

“I’m the only black person on my floor and they were chanting this outside my door so don’t be surprised to why I didn’t leave my room.”

In a statement, the university said: “We are shocked and appalled to see the video of racist chanting posted yesterday evening.

“This kind of vile behaviour will not be tolerated at Nottingham Trent University.”

Ms Chisango said on Twitter that she had reported the incident, which happened on Monday night, to reception staff at her student halls – but she did not hear anything for days.

The university has said it is working with the student accommodation partner to understand why the institution was only alerted to the incident last night.

“We value being a diverse global community, with staff and students from across the world,” the university added.

Mary Okpo, of Nottingham Trent’s African Caribbean Society, told the BBC the incident was “unjustifiable and unacceptable”.

She said: “Whether they were inebriated or not, there’s nothing that can justify what they said.

“This was a terrible, terrible incident. It’s something that I didn’t think I would see. For it to be so overt, open, in 2018. It’s something that really, really shocked me.”

David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham, was among those who offered support to Ms Chisango.

Nottinghamshire Police said: “We’ve arrested two men in connection with racially aggravated public order offences following reports of a video posted at Nottingham Trent University and shared on social media.

“The men, aged 18, remain in police custody. Our enquiries are ongoing.”