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| Hong Kong protest: police fire teargas at demonstrators – live | Hong Kong protest: police fire teargas at demonstrators – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Police in Hong Kong are apparently using hand thrown CS gas grenades made by a British company and approved for sale by the UK government. | |
| Omega Research, which tracks and researches the weapons and equipment used in torture and human rights violations, identified a grenade pictured in a tweet from the Hong Kong protests as a hand thrown N225 Rubber Bursting CS grenade, made by the UK-based Chemring Group. | |
| Police in Hong Kong are using what appears to be hand thrown N225 Rubber Bursting CS Grenades, manufactured by the UK-based Chemring Group, against protestors @CAATuk @amnestyHK @AmnestyUK @RiotID @ForensicArchi @forum_asia @ClementBoursin @patrickpoon #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/40dqCgePzD | |
| Omega Research said the picture had been sourced from this tweet sent from Hong Kong earlier today: | |
| [Updates] Hong Kong Police has shot down one student protestor in eyes, condition unknown. Tear gas and plastic bullets have been deployed. Officials has declared the protest as riot, possible forces such as water cannon may be deployed. #HongKongProtest #NoChinaExtradition pic.twitter.com/MiW9iknUxH | |
| I was unable to find any information about this munition on the Chemring website, which seems only to advertise smoke bombs, flares and other non-violent items. | |
| However, it appears that these grenades have been used against Hong Kong protesters before. Similar looking devices were found during the 2014 pro-democracy protests in the city, the Times reported at the time. | |
| Protesters have been quite inventive in their methods for trying to ameliorate the effects of the teargas, CS, pepper spray and other irritant weapons fired at them, including wrapping their skin in clingfilm, wetting facemasks, and washing their faces with milk, as well as shielding themselves with the now emblematic umbrellas. | |
| The video tweeted below shows another way they have protected themselves against gas munitions - extinguishing them with bottles of water as they land. | |
| pic.twitter.com/ean6ZgOlsN | |
| Twenty-two people had been taken to hospital with injuries related to today’s protests as of 6pm local time, according to the South China Morning Post. | Twenty-two people had been taken to hospital with injuries related to today’s protests as of 6pm local time, according to the South China Morning Post. |
| The paper reports that the Hong Kong hospital authority is asking the public to avoid using accident and emergency services unless absolutely necessary. | The paper reports that the Hong Kong hospital authority is asking the public to avoid using accident and emergency services unless absolutely necessary. |
| Hong Kong’s population have developed a sudden - but perhaps understandable - interest in encrypted communications, according to this tweet. | Hong Kong’s population have developed a sudden - but perhaps understandable - interest in encrypted communications, according to this tweet. |
| 3 of the top trending apps in HK iOS store now are secure messaging apps. pic.twitter.com/CqMhAbnxIi | 3 of the top trending apps in HK iOS store now are secure messaging apps. pic.twitter.com/CqMhAbnxIi |
| Protesters are seeking shelter inside nearby shopping centres to escape police teargas and baton round attacks, Verna Yu reports. | Protesters are seeking shelter inside nearby shopping centres to escape police teargas and baton round attacks, Verna Yu reports. |
| Police in riot gear have used volley after volley of tear gas, as well as rubber bullets, beanbag rounds and pepper spray, to try to clear the area around Admiralty and Hong Kong’s government buildings. | Police in riot gear have used volley after volley of tear gas, as well as rubber bullets, beanbag rounds and pepper spray, to try to clear the area around Admiralty and Hong Kong’s government buildings. |
| Police are firing tear gas now on main Street outside Pacific place shopping centre, Yu reports. Many people cleared from the area outside the legislative committee building have regrouped there. | Police are firing tear gas now on main Street outside Pacific place shopping centre, Yu reports. Many people cleared from the area outside the legislative committee building have regrouped there. |
| Wong Shan, 80, said: “The government just wants to scare the young people (by shooting tear gas). The government really shouldn’t do this to peaceful protesters. Some police were even holding rifles. Unlike the 1967 riot, nobody is wrecking shops. They are just voicing their opinions. The law is a very wrong thing.” | Wong Shan, 80, said: “The government just wants to scare the young people (by shooting tear gas). The government really shouldn’t do this to peaceful protesters. Some police were even holding rifles. Unlike the 1967 riot, nobody is wrecking shops. They are just voicing their opinions. The law is a very wrong thing.” |
| The council meeting to decide on the new extradition bill with China will not be held today, according to a Hong Kong government press release. The release, issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat at 6.40pm local time (11.40BST), says: | The council meeting to decide on the new extradition bill with China will not be held today, according to a Hong Kong government press release. The release, issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat at 6.40pm local time (11.40BST), says: |
| Under Rule 14 (3) of the Rules of Procedure, the President of the Legislative Council has decided that the Council meeting of June 12 will not be held today. Announcement will be made once the President determines the time of the meeting. | Under Rule 14 (3) of the Rules of Procedure, the President of the Legislative Council has decided that the Council meeting of June 12 will not be held today. Announcement will be made once the President determines the time of the meeting. |
| Earlier, the Hong Kong government reiterated police claims that a riot had broken out in the Admiralty area and instructed people to stay away. That release, issued at 6.05pm (11.05BST), said: | Earlier, the Hong Kong government reiterated police claims that a riot had broken out in the Admiralty area and instructed people to stay away. That release, issued at 6.05pm (11.05BST), said: |
| A Government spokesman said today (June 12) that a riot broke out in the Admiralty area, with protesters causing serious obstruction to major trunk roads and great inconvenience. | A Government spokesman said today (June 12) that a riot broke out in the Admiralty area, with protesters causing serious obstruction to major trunk roads and great inconvenience. |
| The spokesman said a number of protesters had used very dangerous weapons and a high level of violence. They have repeatedly charged at police officers, leading to an increasingly chaotic situation. The Government calls on the persons at the location to leave immediately for their own safety. Other members of the public should not go to the Admiralty area. The spokesperson also urged protesters who were blocking the carriageways to release certain traffic lanes immediately to allow the passage of emergency vehicles and let traffic resume as soon as possible. | The spokesman said a number of protesters had used very dangerous weapons and a high level of violence. They have repeatedly charged at police officers, leading to an increasingly chaotic situation. The Government calls on the persons at the location to leave immediately for their own safety. Other members of the public should not go to the Admiralty area. The spokesperson also urged protesters who were blocking the carriageways to release certain traffic lanes immediately to allow the passage of emergency vehicles and let traffic resume as soon as possible. |
| The spokesman added that Hong Kong people enjoy the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. However, protesters assembling at the scene must comply with the laws of Hong Kong and maintain social order, remain calm and exercise restraint, leave the scene peacefully. The Police will take appropriate actions if there are any illegal acts. | The spokesman added that Hong Kong people enjoy the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. However, protesters assembling at the scene must comply with the laws of Hong Kong and maintain social order, remain calm and exercise restraint, leave the scene peacefully. The Police will take appropriate actions if there are any illegal acts. |
| Students and young people are not the only people caught up in the police riot in Hong Kong today. Reuters has circulated this picture of Lam Cheuk-ting, chief executive of Hong Kong’s Democratic party and a Legislative Council member, being treated for the effects of pepper spray. | Students and young people are not the only people caught up in the police riot in Hong Kong today. Reuters has circulated this picture of Lam Cheuk-ting, chief executive of Hong Kong’s Democratic party and a Legislative Council member, being treated for the effects of pepper spray. |
| Our reporter Verna Yu is still out in the streets, very close to the clouds of teargas that police are using to clear the Admiralty area. Earlier she spoke to Ada, 48, a mother of two, who said she was “shocked and upset” when police fired tear gas. | Our reporter Verna Yu is still out in the streets, very close to the clouds of teargas that police are using to clear the Admiralty area. Earlier she spoke to Ada, 48, a mother of two, who said she was “shocked and upset” when police fired tear gas. |
| She was on a walkway above the site where police fired the shots. “I had no idea they would keep firing tear as people were retreating already. Why did they do that?” | She was on a walkway above the site where police fired the shots. “I had no idea they would keep firing tear as people were retreating already. Why did they do that?” |
| Each time the police have fired volleys of teargas they raise a black flag warning protesters. Two young men in their 20s who told her they were hit by tear gas are now leaving. One said “I am not sure if I’ll come back. The situation is too bad now.” | Each time the police have fired volleys of teargas they raise a black flag warning protesters. Two young men in their 20s who told her they were hit by tear gas are now leaving. One said “I am not sure if I’ll come back. The situation is too bad now.” |
| According to the Associated Press, Hong Kong police commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung told reporters that officers have used batons, pepper spray, beanbag rounds, rubber bullets, water hoses and tear gas against the demonstrators. | According to the Associated Press, Hong Kong police commissioner Stephen Lo Wai-chung told reporters that officers have used batons, pepper spray, beanbag rounds, rubber bullets, water hoses and tear gas against the demonstrators. |
| He said police took action after a large group of masked protesters charged onto the roads surrounding the complex in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district and started throwing objects including metal barriers at officers. He called the situation a riot. | He said police took action after a large group of masked protesters charged onto the roads surrounding the complex in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district and started throwing objects including metal barriers at officers. He called the situation a riot. |
| He said several people including some officers had been injured, adding: “This is very dangerous action that could kill someone.” | He said several people including some officers had been injured, adding: “This is very dangerous action that could kill someone.” |
| On Twitter, videos are appearing that show police seizing and beating protesters. Two have been posted that appear to show the same incident from different angles. | On Twitter, videos are appearing that show police seizing and beating protesters. Two have been posted that appear to show the same incident from different angles. |
| #HongKongProtest #hongkongpolice #HongKongExtraditionLaw pic.twitter.com/O5vEFWmzfF | #HongKongProtest #hongkongpolice #HongKongExtraditionLaw pic.twitter.com/O5vEFWmzfF |
| Police baton charge and bash an unarmed young man. #hongkong #AntiELABhk pic.twitter.com/yTOcLgYfGS | Police baton charge and bash an unarmed young man. #hongkong #AntiELABhk pic.twitter.com/yTOcLgYfGS |
| We are getting multiple reports through email and social media of at least one protester, maybe several, who have been badly injured after being shot in the face with rubber bullets or beanbag rounds. | We are getting multiple reports through email and social media of at least one protester, maybe several, who have been badly injured after being shot in the face with rubber bullets or beanbag rounds. |
| A picture circulating on social media shows one man lying on the floor, attended to by protesters with blood streaming from his face, reportedly after he was hit with one of the “non-lethal” munitions. | A picture circulating on social media shows one man lying on the floor, attended to by protesters with blood streaming from his face, reportedly after he was hit with one of the “non-lethal” munitions. |
| A second man hit in the face speaks on a video uploaded to YouTube. According to Mandy Lee, an assistant professor in the school of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin, who sent in a link to the video, he says he was shot without warning when protesters were moving metal barriers. Lee translates him as saying: | A second man hit in the face speaks on a video uploaded to YouTube. According to Mandy Lee, an assistant professor in the school of Medicine at Trinity College Dublin, who sent in a link to the video, he says he was shot without warning when protesters were moving metal barriers. Lee translates him as saying: |
| They had not engaged in any charging and any violent moves and the shots were fired without warning. When the reporter asked if he knows what types of bullets he was hit with, he is not sure himself but he thinks it appears to be rubber but as it was lodged in his eye socket he could not know for sure. | They had not engaged in any charging and any violent moves and the shots were fired without warning. When the reporter asked if he knows what types of bullets he was hit with, he is not sure himself but he thinks it appears to be rubber but as it was lodged in his eye socket he could not know for sure. |
| Clashes continue in central Hong Kong, despite police attempts to drive protesters from the area using a range of crowd control weapons - including rubber bullets. | Clashes continue in central Hong Kong, despite police attempts to drive protesters from the area using a range of crowd control weapons - including rubber bullets. |
| According to the latest bulletins from the Associated Press, police in riot gear pushed back protesters who tried to storm past barricades to reach government buildings. | According to the latest bulletins from the Associated Press, police in riot gear pushed back protesters who tried to storm past barricades to reach government buildings. |
| Our reporter Verna Yu has been sending pictures of crowds fleeing clouds of teargas, hurling back rubbish and plastic water bottles towards lines of police. They are shouting: “Dog police ! Dog police” at officers who have been authorised to use force to clear what the Hong Kong police are calling a riot. | Our reporter Verna Yu has been sending pictures of crowds fleeing clouds of teargas, hurling back rubbish and plastic water bottles towards lines of police. They are shouting: “Dog police ! Dog police” at officers who have been authorised to use force to clear what the Hong Kong police are calling a riot. |
| The latest from AP is that police are searching some protesters and their bags as they try to leave the scene. “Scores of protesters were leaving the area Wednesday, some with their hands held high, after police shot tear gas around the besieged city government headquarters near the waterfront,” the agency says. | The latest from AP is that police are searching some protesters and their bags as they try to leave the scene. “Scores of protesters were leaving the area Wednesday, some with their hands held high, after police shot tear gas around the besieged city government headquarters near the waterfront,” the agency says. |
| HK Police randomly stopping passengers at scale in MTR stations near the legislative council, asking them to leave the premises.“I don’t need to explain anything to you! ” was the officer’s reply when the lady asked what offense did she violate.#HongKong #ExtraditionLaw pic.twitter.com/THgYs3ACIN | HK Police randomly stopping passengers at scale in MTR stations near the legislative council, asking them to leave the premises.“I don’t need to explain anything to you! ” was the officer’s reply when the lady asked what offense did she violate.#HongKong #ExtraditionLaw pic.twitter.com/THgYs3ACIN |
| Beijing reiterated its support for the extradition law at a regular press briefing on Wednesday afternoon and called rumours that the government would call in the Chinese military to clear protests “misinformation”, reports Lily Kuo, our Beijing correspondent. | Beijing reiterated its support for the extradition law at a regular press briefing on Wednesday afternoon and called rumours that the government would call in the Chinese military to clear protests “misinformation”, reports Lily Kuo, our Beijing correspondent. |
| China’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters in Beijing: “I can clearly tell you that is a fallacy being spread to deceive people and create panic”. | China’s foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters in Beijing: “I can clearly tell you that is a fallacy being spread to deceive people and create panic”. |
| The shell casing found on the floor and photographed by a reporter earlier in Hong Kong appears to be from a kind of shotgun-fired crowd control round, according to Ben Hammersley, who sent us a tweet about it. | The shell casing found on the floor and photographed by a reporter earlier in Hong Kong appears to be from a kind of shotgun-fired crowd control round, according to Ben Hammersley, who sent us a tweet about it. |
| According to a description on the manufacturer’s website, the ALS1202 Rubber Fin Rocket (direct fire) is a “12 (gauge) rubber finned projectile that is designed to be direct fired, producing blunt trauma and pain compliance.” | According to a description on the manufacturer’s website, the ALS1202 Rubber Fin Rocket (direct fire) is a “12 (gauge) rubber finned projectile that is designed to be direct fired, producing blunt trauma and pain compliance.” |
| According to a warning on the munition’s specification sheet: “Serious injury or death may occur if the product is misused or in rare or unexpected instances. Individuals should only engage appropriate target areas.” | According to a warning on the munition’s specification sheet: “Serious injury or death may occur if the product is misused or in rare or unexpected instances. Individuals should only engage appropriate target areas.” |
| ALS1202 Rubber Fin Rocket (direct fire)"Serious injury or death may occur if the product is misused or in rare or unexpected instances. Individuals should only engage appropriate target areas." pic.twitter.com/FsRiuDhhBR | ALS1202 Rubber Fin Rocket (direct fire)"Serious injury or death may occur if the product is misused or in rare or unexpected instances. Individuals should only engage appropriate target areas." pic.twitter.com/FsRiuDhhBR |
| Something we found on Lung Wo Road, not sure #ExtraditionBill pic.twitter.com/j8L0mapxJs | Something we found on Lung Wo Road, not sure #ExtraditionBill pic.twitter.com/j8L0mapxJs |
| Stephen Lo, Hong Kong’s police commissioner, has defended the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bag rounds against protesters, telling a press conference that the demonstration in the city’s Admiralty area has become a “riot”. | Stephen Lo, Hong Kong’s police commissioner, has defended the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and bean bag rounds against protesters, telling a press conference that the demonstration in the city’s Admiralty area has become a “riot”. |
| Lo said police were forced to take action after their cordons around Hong Kong’s legislative council building came under attack, Radio Television Hong Kong reports. According to RTHK: | Lo said police were forced to take action after their cordons around Hong Kong’s legislative council building came under attack, Radio Television Hong Kong reports. According to RTHK: |
| He said if officers had not taken such actions “protesters would have used metal bars to stab our colleagues”. | He said if officers had not taken such actions “protesters would have used metal bars to stab our colleagues”. |
| The police chief also accused protesters of engaging in violent behaviour and not allowing those trapped in the area since the morning to leave. | The police chief also accused protesters of engaging in violent behaviour and not allowing those trapped in the area since the morning to leave. |
| When asked if the police would ask the People’s Liberation Army for help, Lo said “definitely not, at this stage”. | When asked if the police would ask the People’s Liberation Army for help, Lo said “definitely not, at this stage”. |
| Hong Kong’s police chief has called the protests outside the legislative council a “riot situation” and has confirmed that his officers have used rubber bullets as well as tear gas on protesters, Reuters reports. | Hong Kong’s police chief has called the protests outside the legislative council a “riot situation” and has confirmed that his officers have used rubber bullets as well as tear gas on protesters, Reuters reports. |
| Hong Kong citizens are being told not to enter the centre of the city, where police have fired volley after volley of tear gas and streams of pepper spray at protesters. Ambulances were heading towards the protest area, according to Reuters. | Hong Kong citizens are being told not to enter the centre of the city, where police have fired volley after volley of tear gas and streams of pepper spray at protesters. Ambulances were heading towards the protest area, according to Reuters. |
| The agency reports that some protesters had tried to charge police lines, pitching their umbrellas against police officers truncheons. Police warned them back, saying: “We will use force.” | The agency reports that some protesters had tried to charge police lines, pitching their umbrellas against police officers truncheons. Police warned them back, saying: “We will use force.” |
| Separately, there are reports on livestreams from Hong Kong that a journalist has been shot in the head with either a rubber bullet or a tear gas canister and has lost consciousness. | Separately, there are reports on livestreams from Hong Kong that a journalist has been shot in the head with either a rubber bullet or a tear gas canister and has lost consciousness. |
| This aerial shot from a high rise close to the Legislative Council building shows crowds attempting to escape clouds of teargas fired by police trying to clear the area. No one wants to be caught inside that fog of irritant gas. | This aerial shot from a high rise close to the Legislative Council building shows crowds attempting to escape clouds of teargas fired by police trying to clear the area. No one wants to be caught inside that fog of irritant gas. |
| Hong kong right now around the government offices #NoToChinaExtradition #HongKong pic.twitter.com/Rxq7QpbRog | Hong kong right now around the government offices #NoToChinaExtradition #HongKong pic.twitter.com/Rxq7QpbRog |
| Here are the latest news pictures coming through from Hong Kong. Live streams of the scene show the police there launching round after round of tear gas at protesters. Many are attempting to leave the scene of the demonstration, with police searching and checking those on the way out of the area. | Here are the latest news pictures coming through from Hong Kong. Live streams of the scene show the police there launching round after round of tear gas at protesters. Many are attempting to leave the scene of the demonstration, with police searching and checking those on the way out of the area. |
| The situation in Hong Kong is fast and fluid at the moment, with thousands of people on the streets, many attempting to leave the scene as tear gas floats through the air, according to the live feeds that I’m watching. | The situation in Hong Kong is fast and fluid at the moment, with thousands of people on the streets, many attempting to leave the scene as tear gas floats through the air, according to the live feeds that I’m watching. |
| News pictures show streams of people leaving the area, many of them rubbing their eyes and covering masks with water to alleviate the effects of the teargas. | News pictures show streams of people leaving the area, many of them rubbing their eyes and covering masks with water to alleviate the effects of the teargas. |
| Police are warning protesters to leave, otherwise they will face another attack, according to one feed. However, they are searching protesters as they attempt to leave the area. | Police are warning protesters to leave, otherwise they will face another attack, according to one feed. However, they are searching protesters as they attempt to leave the area. |
| A journalist on the Radio Television Hong Kong feed says a tear gas landed in front of him and it exploded and emitted sparks. Damon Pang, a reporter with the station, earlier tweeted this picture of a shell casing he found in the street. | A journalist on the Radio Television Hong Kong feed says a tear gas landed in front of him and it exploded and emitted sparks. Damon Pang, a reporter with the station, earlier tweeted this picture of a shell casing he found in the street. |
| Something we found on Lung Wo Road, not sure #ExtraditionBill pic.twitter.com/j8L0mapxJs | Something we found on Lung Wo Road, not sure #ExtraditionBill pic.twitter.com/j8L0mapxJs |