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Hong Kong Polytechnic University: Protesters arrested as they run from campus | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Several protesters have been arrested while trying to run from a Hong Kong university campus surrounded by police. | |
A group of around 100 people tried to leave Polytechnic University but were met with tear gas and rubber bullets. | |
It's the third time protesters have tried to leave, following a violent and fiery overnight stand-off with police. | |
In the past week, Polytechnic University has turned into a battleground as the long-running Hong Kong protests become more violent. | |
Meanwhile - as protests were raging - a Hong Kong court ruled the government's anti-mask law unconstitutional. | |
In October the government invoked a colonial-era emergency law to make wearing masks illegal - but protesters largely defied the ban. | |
What is happening now? | |
At around 13:45 local time, around 100 protesters tried to run from the campus but were met by police trying to arrest them. | |
Images showed protesters pinned down by officers amid clouds of tear gas. | |
Police officers had earlier said protesters could leave the campus via another exit - the Cheong Wan Road South Bridge - but urged them to drop their weapons and remove their gas masks. | |
But pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui - who is on the campus - said the bridge had "been sealed off", and it was not possible to leave this way. | |
Protesters also attempted to leave the campus just after sunrise, but were met by tear gas and rubber bullets. | |
Police said the gas was fired because "a large group of masked rioters...suddenly charged at cordons". | |
Earlier, at around 05:30, protesters threw petrol bombs and lit fires when police tried to enter the campus. | |
According to Mr Hui, many on campus are injured, and staff from the Red Cross were later seen entering the site. | |
The acting president of PolyU's student union Ken Woo said fresh water was available, but food supplies were running low. | |
Earlier, the head of the university, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, released a video statement to protesters, saying he had arranged a deal with the police. | Earlier, the head of the university, Professor Jin-Guang Teng, released a video statement to protesters, saying he had arranged a deal with the police. |
If protesters left peacefully, he said he would "personally accompany" them to the police station where he would "ensure your case is fairly processed". | If protesters left peacefully, he said he would "personally accompany" them to the police station where he would "ensure your case is fairly processed". |
What happened overnight? | |
PolyU has been occupied by protesters for several days. On Sunday night, police warned protesters they had until 22:00 local time (14:00 GMT) to leave the campus. | |
Some left, but others stayed, throwing petrol bombs and bricks at police and even firing arrows from bows. | |
Police warned they could use live ammunition if the attacks continued. | |
The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, who was at the scene, said there was a game of "cat and mouse" with police. | The BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, who was at the scene, said there was a game of "cat and mouse" with police. |
"The police fire tear gas and the water cannon advances, squirting noxious blue liquid," he said. | "The police fire tear gas and the water cannon advances, squirting noxious blue liquid," he said. |
"The protesters, crouching behind umbrellas, respond with petrol bombs and rocks fired from improvised catapults. The police vehicles retreat. The net result is zero." | "The protesters, crouching behind umbrellas, respond with petrol bombs and rocks fired from improvised catapults. The police vehicles retreat. The net result is zero." |
A statement from the university on Sunday night said it had been "severely and extensively vandalised". | |
Who are the protesters left inside? | Who are the protesters left inside? |
In interviews with media, a number of them identified themselves as current students. | In interviews with media, a number of them identified themselves as current students. |
But it is unclear now how many of those left on the PolyU campus are, in fact, university students. | |
The protesters earlier appealed for university alumni and others sympathetic to the cause to join them as reinforcements. | |
How did we get here? | How did we get here? |
Campuses remained relatively free of violence during the Hong Kong protests. But earlier last week, the Chinese University of Hong Kong became a battleground. | |
Police said protesters threw petrol bombs on a major road near the university in an effort to stop traffic. Officers attempted to reclaim the road, leading to major clashes. | |
The university then cancelled all classes for the rest of the term. | The university then cancelled all classes for the rest of the term. |
Days later, protesters at PolyU also tried to block access to a key tunnel near the university. | Days later, protesters at PolyU also tried to block access to a key tunnel near the university. |
"We occupied the streets next to the campus because it's the Cross Harbour Tunnel," one 23-year-old protester told NBC News. | "We occupied the streets next to the campus because it's the Cross Harbour Tunnel," one 23-year-old protester told NBC News. |
"If we could first jam the traffic, then people couldn't go to work and the economy in return would suffer." | "If we could first jam the traffic, then people couldn't go to work and the economy in return would suffer." |
On Monday afternoon the city's Hospital Authority said 24 people aged between 16-84 were injured, with four in serious condition across Hong Kong. | |
Some 13 people, aged between 22 and 57, were injured on Sunday, with one in serious condition. | |
It is unclear how many of the injured were protesters at the university. | |
Why are there protests in Hong Hong? | Why are there protests in Hong Hong? |
Hong Kong - a British colony until 1997 - is part of China under a model known as "one country, two systems". | Hong Kong - a British colony until 1997 - is part of China under a model known as "one country, two systems". |
Under this model, Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy and people have freedoms unseen in mainland China. | Under this model, Hong Kong has a high degree of autonomy and people have freedoms unseen in mainland China. |
The protests started in June after the government planned to pass a bill that would allow suspects to be extradited to mainland China. | The protests started in June after the government planned to pass a bill that would allow suspects to be extradited to mainland China. |
Many feared this would undermine the city's freedoms and judicial independence. | Many feared this would undermine the city's freedoms and judicial independence. |
The bill was eventually withdrawn but the protests continued, having evolved into a broader revolt against the police, and the way Hong Kong is administered by Beijing. | The bill was eventually withdrawn but the protests continued, having evolved into a broader revolt against the police, and the way Hong Kong is administered by Beijing. |