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Fire, rocks and teargas fly in day of battle at Hong Kong university Fire, rocks and teargas fly in day of battle at Hong Kong university
(32 minutes later)
Unrest continues to escalate as protesters fight police from barricaded campus Police threaten to use live rounds on ‘rioters’ who use lethal weapons such as molotov cocktails against them
Hong Kong riot police and protesters have waged a day-long battle at a university, during which officers fired teargas and a water cannon and drove an armoured vehicle at demonstrators who were throwing molotov cocktails. Violence between riot police and protesters reached new heights on Sunday as the two sides waged a daylong battle and police threatened to use live rounds on demonstrators.
After more than 12 hours of clashes at Polytechnic University in Kowloon, the police warned that they would use live rounds on protesters if they did not stop their attacks. Protesters on a roof of the university used catapults as well as bows to shoot back at police, striking one officer in the calf with an arrow. After more than 12 hours of clashes at Polytechnic University in Kowloon, during which officers fired teargas and a water cannon and drove an armoured vehicle at demonstrators throwing molotov cocktails, the police said in a video statement that they would use live rounds on the “rioters” if they did not stop using lethal weapons to attack officers.
The university, which has been taken over by protesters since clashes last week, became the site on Sunday of some of the longest, tensest clashes between anti-government demonstrators and police of the last five months.The university, which has been taken over by protesters since clashes last week, became the site on Sunday of some of the longest, tensest clashes between anti-government demonstrators and police of the last five months.
As a helicopter hovered overhead, riot police shot blue-dyed liquid laced with pepper spray at protesters who set on fire a pedestrian bridge packed with furniture, umbrellas and other materials, causing a blaze that was later put out by firefighters. As a helicopter hovered overhead, riot police shot blue-dyed liquid laced with pepper spray at protesters who set on fire a pedestrian bridge packed with furniture, umbrellas and other materials, causing a blaze that was later put out by firefighters. Protesters on a roof of the university used catapults as well as bows to shoot at police, striking one officer in the calf with an arrow.
They also occupied a flyover and threw petrol bombs at riot police, setting off explosions and sending flames into the sky. An armoured vehicle drove towards protesters but was stopped by a barricade and pelted with molotov cocktails until it caught fire. They also occupied a flyover and threw petrol bombs at riot police, setting off explosions and sending flames into the sky. An armoured vehicle drove towards protesters but was stopped by a barricade and pelted with molotov cocktails until it caught fire. Dozens were arrested as they tried to leave, following a police order to evacuate by a specified exit.
The confrontation, a continuation of fighting from the night before, began in the morning when protesters were seen throwing bricks at residents trying to clear a blockaded road. It continued into the late evening, with police declaring the unrest a riot and warning that anyone who remained on the campus or assisted the perpetrators would be considered a rioter. By late evening on Sunday, the unrest had spread, as protesters and their supporters took to the streets in at least five other locations to draw police resources away from the university. Hundreds of protesters ripped up bricks in Jordan, also in Kowloon, and lit a barricade on fire as police pursued them with teargas and water cannon.
The university issued a statement calling on people to immediately leave the grounds. “The university is gravely concerned that the spiralling radical illicit activities will cause not only a tremendous safety threat on campus, but also class suspension over an indefinite period of time,” it said. The confrontation, a continuation of the fighting from the night before, began in the morning when protesters were seen throwing bricks at residents trying to clear a blockaded road. It continued into the late evening, when police declared the unrest a riot and warned that anyone who remained on the campus or assisted the perpetrators would be considered a rioter.
To draw police resources away from the university, protesters and their supporters took to the streets in at least five other locations. Hundreds of protesters ripped up bricks in Jordan, also in Kowloon, and lit a barricade on fire as police pursued them with tear gas and a water cannon. The university issued a statement calling on people to leave the grounds immediately. “The university is gravely concerned that the spiralling radical illicit activities will cause not only a tremendous safety threat on campus, but also class suspension over an indefinite period of time,” it said.
Political unrest has escalated dramatically in the last week as anti-government demonstrators have blocked transport links and roads, and paralysed parts of the city. After the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, delivered his first public remarks on the crisis on Thursday after more than five months of protests, People’s Liberation Army soldiers took to the streets on Saturday to help residents clear blocked roads. Political unrest has escalated dramatically in the last week as anti-government demonstrators have blocked transport links and roads and paralysed parts of the city. After the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, delivered his first public remarks on the crisis on Thursday after more than five months of protests, People’s Liberation Army soldiers took to the streets on Saturday to help residents clear blocked roads.
Dressed in shorts and T-shirts and holding plastic buckets, the soldiers helped residents clear the protesters’ improvised barricades, a move demonstrators described as “clearance today, crackdown tomorrow”. The Hong Kong government said it had not requested the help, describing the soldiers’ excursion as a “voluntary activity”. Dressed in shorts and T-shirts and holding plastic buckets, the soldiers helped residents clear the protesters’ improvised barricades, a move that demonstrators described as “clearance today, crackdown tomorrow”. The Hong Kong government said it had not requested the help, describing the soldiers’ excursion as a “voluntary activity”.
On Sunday, Chinese soldiers at a base near the university, some in riot gear, were seen monitoring the situation. The Global Times reported that police in Guangzhou were holding “counter-terrorism” exercises.On Sunday, Chinese soldiers at a base near the university, some in riot gear, were seen monitoring the situation. The Global Times reported that police in Guangzhou were holding “counter-terrorism” exercises.
The smell of teargas wafted over the university campus, which has been turned into a battle station as first aid volunteers tended to injured protesters and others sorted supplies and prepared molotov cocktails. Protesters struck by the water were stripped and hosed down.The smell of teargas wafted over the university campus, which has been turned into a battle station as first aid volunteers tended to injured protesters and others sorted supplies and prepared molotov cocktails. Protesters struck by the water were stripped and hosed down.
Activists have destroyed the tollbooths along the tunnel and built barricades on the road, blocking a major traffic artery. Roads leading into the university were strewn with bricks and nails, in an effort to slow down the police. Heeding calls, dozens of supporters had arrived and were pulling up more bricks. Activists have destroyed the tollbooths along the tunnel and built barricades on the road, blocking a major traffic artery. Roads leading into the university were strewn with bricks and nails in an effort to slow down the police. Heeding calls, dozens of supporters had arrived and were pulling up more bricks.
“I really support them. I’ve joined every demonstration from 9 June to now,” said Lee, 68, a retired police officer who was helping arrange bricks. “They are boiling the frog alive,” he said, referring to China’s growing control over Hong Kong.“I really support them. I’ve joined every demonstration from 9 June to now,” said Lee, 68, a retired police officer who was helping arrange bricks. “They are boiling the frog alive,” he said, referring to China’s growing control over Hong Kong.
After almost six months of weekly and now daily protests, Hong Kong’s crisis reached a new peak last week after two protest-related deaths, dozens of injuries, and what were seen as attacks on universities by the police.After almost six months of weekly and now daily protests, Hong Kong’s crisis reached a new peak last week after two protest-related deaths, dozens of injuries, and what were seen as attacks on universities by the police.
Residents have become frustrated and impatient with the traffic disruptions, while others have grown alarmed by what they see as the protesters’ increasing violence and intolerance for those who disagree with them.Residents have become frustrated and impatient with the traffic disruptions, while others have grown alarmed by what they see as the protesters’ increasing violence and intolerance for those who disagree with them.
Hong Kong’s education bureau has called off lessons on Monday, after cancelling classes on Thursday and Friday out of safety concerns. Several universities have ended the semester early and sent foreign students home.Hong Kong’s education bureau has called off lessons on Monday, after cancelling classes on Thursday and Friday out of safety concerns. Several universities have ended the semester early and sent foreign students home.
On Sunday, Hong Kong’s finance minister, Paul Chan, said the city was heading towards its worst recession since the 1997 handover, as tourist numbers have fallen, and stocks and retail sales have been hit.On Sunday, Hong Kong’s finance minister, Paul Chan, said the city was heading towards its worst recession since the 1997 handover, as tourist numbers have fallen, and stocks and retail sales have been hit.
Calvin See, 27, who works at a logistics company, said the disruptions and slowdown were hurting its revenues. He had come to help support the protesters at Polytechnic University after seeing calls for reinforcements.Calvin See, 27, who works at a logistics company, said the disruptions and slowdown were hurting its revenues. He had come to help support the protesters at Polytechnic University after seeing calls for reinforcements.
“That’s not the worst part. I worry about people getting hurt, people getting shot. If I lose my job, I’m not going to die,” he said. “That’s not the worst part. I worry about people getting hurt, people getting shot. If I lose my job, I’m not going to die,” he said. “Those people on the front, they are putting their lives on the line to fight for what they believe … they are doing it for all of us.”
“Those people on the front, they are putting their lives on the line to fight for what they believe … they are doing it for all of us,” said See.