HK protest: Police fire tear gas at protesters as Hong Kong protest turns violent
Hong Kong police on Saturday fired tear gas at an unauthorised protest involving tens of thousands of people.
The protesters gathered to protest an attack by armed masked men, suspected to be members of triad gang, on pro-democracy protesters and commuters at a train station last weekend .
Police, widely critized for failing to protect the public, had banned protest in the town on safety grounds.
But protesters defied police ban and what began as a peaceful protest by several thousands soon grew increasingly tense with standoffs between police and protesters in several locations .
Rocks and bottles were thrown at police by protesters who were also building barricades out of street furniture and umbrellas. Police responded with tear gas .
I forgot my umbrella, so I had to buy this badminton racket … just for self protection, said one young helmeted, masked man, who declined to give his name or age as he sped to the front line.
He added that many of the protesters who marched did not want to stay late, saying Yuen Long was too dangerous for them after dark.
Why are protesters angry at the police ?
Last Sunday, about 100 white – shirted men stormed the Yuen long mass – transit station hours after protesters marched through central Hong Kong and vandalised China’s Liason Officer – the main symbol of Beijing ‘s authority over the former British colony.
The men attacked black-clad protesters returning from the Hong Kong island , passersby, journalists and lawmakers with pipes and clubs, injuring 45 people .
The police, accused of not responding fast to the attack, became the focus of today’s protest .
“They failed the public” , a protester called Kevin said of the police earlier in the afternoon, as he stood outside the police station, gripping its gates .
They deliberately let the triads beat up protesters to get revenge on us … We’re here to teach them a lesson,” he said, as he shouted an obscenity at the police.
Police said on Sunday some protesters had surrounded and vandalised a police van, ” causing danger to the life of the police officers onboard .
