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WATCH: Well-equipped protesters locked in ferocious street battle with Hong Kong police WATCH: Club-wielding mob attacks Hong Kong police as protests turn violent
(about 3 hours later)
Police and protesters got up close and personal on Hong Kong streets, a newly posted video shows, and protesters looked like they meant business, appearing to be armed on a par with the city’s law enforcement. Protesters used clubs and projectiles to attack police on the streets of Hong Kong, a newly posted video shows, contradicting the western narrative which had painted the anti-China demonstrators as noble victims.
The footage shows the police in full riot gear battling protesters who themselves were armed with baseball bats, metal sticks and sharp objects.. Many of them had gas masks on and were seen throwing rocks and other solid objects at the security forces. Footage shows the a group of armed protesters –many equipped with helmets and gas masks– rushing at riot police with baseball bats, sticks, rocks, metal rods and other crude weapons.
In the video footage, there’s also smoke wafting about, likely from tear gas canisters.  Even as the outnumbered police officers retreat, the mob stays in pursuit, hurling rocks and swinging their clubs.
The video is just the latest evidence of increasing violence from both the police and demonstrators in the city. The latest alarming video elicited a mixed response from Twitter users. Some argued that the protesters were acting out of self-defense, but others noted that the video clearly shows that some Hong Kong demonstrators have turned violent.
But international scrutiny has mostly been focused on police brutality, despite the circulation of videos showing aggressive behavior from baton-wielding masked protesters.  The latest report by Hong Kong police stated that 36 people were arrested during Sunday’s protests for various violent acts. The semi-autonomous metropolitan region has been rocked by twelve weeks of unrest, sparked by protests against an extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong authorities to detain and extradite people to mainland China. The bill has since been suspended, but protests have grown into a broader revolt against Chinese sovereignty over the territory.
The latest alarming video elicited a mixed response from Twitter users. Some were in support of the protesters, pointing out that they’d acted in self-defense. 
Others were not as sympathetic, claiming that the protests were no longer peaceful, while also pointing out how well-equipped the protesting activists are.
Some compared the Hong Kong police’s reactions to other forces from around the world.
The latest report by Hong Kong police stated that 36 people were arrested during Sunday’s protests, including a 12-year old, for various violent acts. The demonstrations in Hong Kong began in June as an outcry against the so-called extradition bill that would have allowed Hong Kong authorities to detain and extradite people to mainland China. The bill has since been suspended, but protests have not died down.
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