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Hong Kong protest: police fire rounds of tear gas at protesters trying to leave campus – live Hong Kong protest: police fire rounds of tear gas at protesters trying to leave campus – live
(32 minutes later)
Police pulled back after attempted dawn raid on Polytechnic University was met with firePolice pulled back after attempted dawn raid on Polytechnic University was met with fire
Hong Kong Free Press reports that dozens of civilians, not those who have been camped out in Poly U, have been arrested in the street after asking police to lift the siege on the university and let protesters leave.
This follows reports of police chasing away civilians from the areas near the cordon around the university, pepper-spraying them, and threatening to shoot them.
Police said they had fired three live rounds in the early hours of Monday at a protest site near the university but that no one appeared to have been hit. We believe this is in relation to the attempt of police to storm the university in the early hours of this morning and not in relation to police blocking protesters from leaving the university campus in the last hour.
In the last half hour, the situation has escalated at the Poly U, where protesters have been bunkered down for two days.
Police attempted to storm Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University on Sunday night after a daylong battle with protesters which saw levels of violence between the two sides reach new heights on Sunday and officials threatened to use live rounds.
About 200 demonstrators remained inside the building at dawn on Monday morning when police in riot gear moved in. As they advanced, protesters set fire to one of the entrances to the university and explosions could be heard.
However, later on Monday morning, things seemed calmer and the university’s president issued a video statement urging students to surrender to police and leave the university campus, saying he had negotiated a temporary suspension of the use of force with the police.
At about 8:30am local time, large numbers of protesters tried to leave the university campus, but were stopped from moving through the streets by police who fired “round after round” of tear gas at protesters. Explosions and gun fire could be heard in some videos showing the protesters attempting to leave the campus, which were posted online.
Protesters were forced back into the university grounds, raising fears that the police had no interest in deescalating the situation, but were aiming to trap all protesters, so they could be arrested and punished for their role in the siege.
Some disturbing reports coming through of police using considerable force on civilians, journalists and first aiders who are trying to get close to the area cordoned off by police around the university.Some disturbing reports coming through of police using considerable force on civilians, journalists and first aiders who are trying to get close to the area cordoned off by police around the university.
There are reports that hundreds of Poly U students are trying to leave the university, as police attempt to stop them, firing tear gas at protesters. In some videos, there is what sounds like gunfire in the background, with Reuters reporting that “riot police open fire”.There are reports that hundreds of Poly U students are trying to leave the university, as police attempt to stop them, firing tear gas at protesters. In some videos, there is what sounds like gunfire in the background, with Reuters reporting that “riot police open fire”.
Protesters are trying to leave the university campus, but are being blocked by police who are firing round after round of tear gas at the demonstrators. Jennifer Wang, a reporter on the ground, says “police have not stopped firing teargas in the last 10 mins.”Protesters are trying to leave the university campus, but are being blocked by police who are firing round after round of tear gas at the demonstrators. Jennifer Wang, a reporter on the ground, says “police have not stopped firing teargas in the last 10 mins.”
The protesters are throwing petrol bombs at the police to try and clear a path through and get out of the university.The protesters are throwing petrol bombs at the police to try and clear a path through and get out of the university.
The Hong Kong Free Press has video from inside an office at the university, where protesters hid from police. They left a mess, including blood throughout the office, as well as leaving a note addressed to the person whose office it was, which apologised for the mess, saying they “needed to escape to your office because riot police are charging by surprise.”The Hong Kong Free Press has video from inside an office at the university, where protesters hid from police. They left a mess, including blood throughout the office, as well as leaving a note addressed to the person whose office it was, which apologised for the mess, saying they “needed to escape to your office because riot police are charging by surprise.”
There are reports that a large number of protesters are now leaving the university campus.There are reports that a large number of protesters are now leaving the university campus.
In the English section of the video statement, which can be seen here, a spokesman said that police had denied entering the campus, but claimed this was untrue.
Footage from 7am.
Professor Teng Jin-guang, the president of Poly U has released a video statement saying he had negotiated a temporary suspension of the use of force with the police and urged protesters to “leave the campus in a peaceful manner”.
However, in telling them to leave the campus, he is also suggesting they will have to turn themselves in to police, saying he would “personally accompany you to the police station to ensure that your case will be fairly processed.”
Here is the full text of his statement :
Good morning, this is Kate Lyons taking over from Naaman Zhou. The mood appears tense inside the university. Protesters are live-streaming events within the university.
At the moment, protesters – may of whom are wearing protective gear like helmets, gas masks and makeshift body armour, like knee guards and shin pads – are gathering and milling around. There does not seem to be any violence at present.
This morning’s standoff began yesterday, when police attempted to clear the university of protestors.
Poly U has been occupied by pro-democracy protesters since last week, and the university has become the site of some of the tensest moments yet in six months of unrest.
On Sunday, police flew a helicopter over the campus, and shot blue-dye laced with pepper spray at protesters. This came after protesters set fire to a pedestrian bridge. From the roof of the university, protesters have thrown petrol bombs and used bows and arrows to shoot at police, with one officer shot in the calf.
Protests also broke out at other locations around the city, to draw police resources away from the university.
On Sunday night and Monday morning, riot police moved in to Poly U. In a video statement, police officials threatened to use live rounds. Protestors established barricades and set fire to one of the entrances. Roughly 200 people are currently inside the university as of Monday morning.
From Associated Press: The Education Bureau has announced that classes from kindergarten to high school would be suspended again on Monday because of safety concerns.
Classes have been canceled since Thursday, after the bureau came under criticism for not doing so earlier.
A fire is burning at one of the entrances to Poly U, with the smoke visible across the city.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the unfolding police operation at Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University, where 200 protesters have been engaged in a standoff with police overnight. Police in riot gear entered the university at dawn, and protesters have set fire to one entrance.
Here is our main story on the police raid and battles between protesters and officers on Sunday: