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| Hong Kong protests: Armed mob violence leaves city in shock | Hong Kong protests: Armed mob violence leaves city in shock |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Hong Kong has been left in shock after a night of violence on Sunday which saw dozens of masked men storm a train station. | |
| The men - dressed in white shirts and suspected to be triad gangsters - assaulted pro-democracy protesters and passers-by in the Yuen Long area. | |
| This is the first time this kind of violence has been seen in the ongoing anti-extradition demonstrations. | This is the first time this kind of violence has been seen in the ongoing anti-extradition demonstrations. |
| Several lawmakers questioned why police were slow to arrive at the scene. | Several lawmakers questioned why police were slow to arrive at the scene. |
| Footage posted on social media showed dozens of men attacking people with batons inside the station. | Footage posted on social media showed dozens of men attacking people with batons inside the station. |
| Forty-five people were injured, with one person in critical condition. | Forty-five people were injured, with one person in critical condition. |
| Lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting said police had taken more than an hour to arrive. | Lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting said police had taken more than an hour to arrive. |
| "Hong Kong has one of the world's highest cop to population ratio," said another pro-democracy lawmaker Ray Chan in a tweet. "Where were [they?]" | "Hong Kong has one of the world's highest cop to population ratio," said another pro-democracy lawmaker Ray Chan in a tweet. "Where were [they?]" |
| Police on Monday said they had not made any arrests but were still carrying out investigations. | Police on Monday said they had not made any arrests but were still carrying out investigations. |
| The mob attack followed a pro-democracy rally on Sunday in the centre of Hong Kong, where riot police had fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters. | The mob attack followed a pro-democracy rally on Sunday in the centre of Hong Kong, where riot police had fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters. |
| The masked men stormed Yuen Long MTR station at about 22:30 local time (14:30 GMT), attacking passengers and people making their way back from the protest. | The masked men stormed Yuen Long MTR station at about 22:30 local time (14:30 GMT), attacking passengers and people making their way back from the protest. |
| In a statement, the government said that in Yuen Long "some people congregated at the platforms of the MTR station and train compartments, attacking commuters". | In a statement, the government said that in Yuen Long "some people congregated at the platforms of the MTR station and train compartments, attacking commuters". |
| "This is absolutely unacceptable to Hong Kong as a society that observes the rule of law. The SAR [Special Administrative Region] Government strongly condemns any violence and will seriously take enforcement actions." | "This is absolutely unacceptable to Hong Kong as a society that observes the rule of law. The SAR [Special Administrative Region] Government strongly condemns any violence and will seriously take enforcement actions." |
| Hong Kong Police also said: "Some people attacked commuters at the platforms of the Yuen Long MTR station and train compartments, resulting in multiple injuries." | Hong Kong Police also said: "Some people attacked commuters at the platforms of the Yuen Long MTR station and train compartments, resulting in multiple injuries." |
| One journalist, Gwyneth Ho, was attacked while she was in the midst of live streaming for news website Stand News. She is currently in hospital. | One journalist, Gwyneth Ho, was attacked while she was in the midst of live streaming for news website Stand News. She is currently in hospital. |
| Mr Lam, an opposition lawmaker, suggested the mob had ties to organised crime syndicates. | Mr Lam, an opposition lawmaker, suggested the mob had ties to organised crime syndicates. |
| "Is Hong Kong now allowing triads to do what they want, beating up people on the street with weapons?" he asked reporters | "Is Hong Kong now allowing triads to do what they want, beating up people on the street with weapons?" he asked reporters |
| What happened at the rally earlier on Sunday? | What happened at the rally earlier on Sunday? |
| Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters in Hong Kong at a large pro-democracy rally, and charged demonstrators who threw objects at police lines. | Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters in Hong Kong at a large pro-democracy rally, and charged demonstrators who threw objects at police lines. |
| The protest route was altered with protesters told to stop at Wan Chai rather than Central, where the key government offices are located. | The protest route was altered with protesters told to stop at Wan Chai rather than Central, where the key government offices are located. |
| Some 4,000 police officers were deployed. | Some 4,000 police officers were deployed. |
| Bonnie Leung from the Civil Human Rights Front urged Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to "stop turning a deaf ear to the Hong Kong people's demands". | Bonnie Leung from the Civil Human Rights Front urged Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam to "stop turning a deaf ear to the Hong Kong people's demands". |
| Organisers of Sunday's protest say more than 430,000 people took part but police put the figure at 138,000. | Organisers of Sunday's protest say more than 430,000 people took part but police put the figure at 138,000. |
| Mass protests have been held for weeks, initially over an extradition deal with mainland China but now covering other issues on democracy in Hong Kong. | Mass protests have been held for weeks, initially over an extradition deal with mainland China but now covering other issues on democracy in Hong Kong. |
| Late on Sunday, riot police equipped with masks and shields were seen swarming towards protesters close to a ferry terminal on the main island. | Late on Sunday, riot police equipped with masks and shields were seen swarming towards protesters close to a ferry terminal on the main island. |
| Images outside of the liaison office, China's central government building, show signs covered in graffiti. One of the slogans reads: "You taught us peaceful marches are useless." | Images outside of the liaison office, China's central government building, show signs covered in graffiti. One of the slogans reads: "You taught us peaceful marches are useless." |
| Some protesters also covered the CCTV cameras outside a police station with spray paint. | Some protesters also covered the CCTV cameras outside a police station with spray paint. |
| The latest rally was put on edge after a huge haul of explosives was found along with protest leaflets. | The latest rally was put on edge after a huge haul of explosives was found along with protest leaflets. |
| On Saturday, a counter-rally in support of the police and against protest violence drew tens of thousands. | On Saturday, a counter-rally in support of the police and against protest violence drew tens of thousands. |
| Tear-gas, rubber bullets, the trashing of parliament by protesters and sporadic clashes have created the worst crisis in the territory's recent history. | Tear-gas, rubber bullets, the trashing of parliament by protesters and sporadic clashes have created the worst crisis in the territory's recent history. |
| The Hong Kong government has since suspended trying to pursue the extradition bill. | The Hong Kong government has since suspended trying to pursue the extradition bill. |
| The former British colony is part of China but run under a "one country, two systems" arrangement that guarantees it a level of autonomy. It has its own judiciary, and a legal system that is independent from mainland China. | The former British colony is part of China but run under a "one country, two systems" arrangement that guarantees it a level of autonomy. It has its own judiciary, and a legal system that is independent from mainland China. |
| What was Saturday's counter-protest about? | What was Saturday's counter-protest about? |
| It took place in the central Hong Kong district of Admiralty on Saturday, attracting 103,000 people according to police, but more than 300,000 according to organisers. | It took place in the central Hong Kong district of Admiralty on Saturday, attracting 103,000 people according to police, but more than 300,000 according to organisers. |
| It was themed "Safeguard Hong Kong". The South China Morning Post said attendees included locals, mainland immigrants, members of ethnic minorities and visitors from across the border. | It was themed "Safeguard Hong Kong". The South China Morning Post said attendees included locals, mainland immigrants, members of ethnic minorities and visitors from across the border. |
| The rally, which won coverage in Chinese state media, focused on support for the police and condemnation of the violence that has marred pro-democracy rallies. | The rally, which won coverage in Chinese state media, focused on support for the police and condemnation of the violence that has marred pro-democracy rallies. |
| Views differed, however, on how the Hong Kong government had tackled the crisis. | Views differed, however, on how the Hong Kong government had tackled the crisis. |
| How did this wave of protests start? | How did this wave of protests start? |
| They were sparked by the proposed extradition bill that would have allowed people to be sent to China for trial. | They were sparked by the proposed extradition bill that would have allowed people to be sent to China for trial. |
| Critics said it would undermine Hong Kong's judicial independence and could be used to target those who spoke out against the Chinese government. | Critics said it would undermine Hong Kong's judicial independence and could be used to target those who spoke out against the Chinese government. |
| The Hong Kong government suspended the bill, but this has not halted the demonstrations, which now reflect broader demands for democratic reform and concerns that freedoms are being eroded. | The Hong Kong government suspended the bill, but this has not halted the demonstrations, which now reflect broader demands for democratic reform and concerns that freedoms are being eroded. |