This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-49066982
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong protests: Armed mob violence leaves city in shock | Hong Kong protests: Armed mob violence leaves city in shock |
| (32 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. | 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. | 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 wooden rods and metal sticks inside the station. | Footage posted on social media showed dozens of men attacking people with wooden rods and metal sticks 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. |
| Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam told reporters the gang attacks were "shocking". She also condemned protesters for defacing China's main representative office in the city earlier on Sunday. | |
| What happened? | What happened? |
| Pro-democracy protesters were set upon as they travelled back from a rally in the centre of Hong Kong, where riot police had fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters. | Pro-democracy protesters were set upon as they travelled back from a rally 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). | The masked men stormed Yuen Long MTR station at about 22:30 local time (14:30 GMT). |
| Local media said they were targeting people dressed in black - the colour most protesters were wearing. | Local media said they were targeting people dressed in black - the colour most protesters were wearing. |
| In a statement, the government said: "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." | In a statement, the government said: "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." |
| One journalist, Gwyneth Ho, was attacked while she was in the middle of live streaming for news website Stand News. She is currently in hospital. | One journalist, Gwyneth Ho, was attacked while she was in the middle of live streaming for news website Stand News. She is currently in hospital. |
| The Hong Kong Journalist Association said some reporters on the scene had equipment seized. | The Hong Kong Journalist Association said some reporters on the scene had equipment seized. |
| Who are the men? | Who are the men? |
| It is not known who organised the attack. | It is not known who organised the attack. |
| 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 |
| Some of the assailants did not seem too concerned about masking their identity, posting selfies online, before during and after the attack, reported the BBC's China correspondent Stephen McDonell. | |
| 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?]" | |
| Police on Monday said they had not made any arrests but were still carrying out investigations. | |
| What else happened on Sunday? | What else happened on Sunday? |
| Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters attending a large pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong, and charged demonstrators who threw objects at police lines. | Riot police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters attending a large pro-democracy rally in Hong Kong, and charged demonstrators who threw objects at police lines. |
| 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 CCTV cameras outside a police station with spray paint. | Some protesters also covered 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 pro-independence protest leaflets on Saturday. | The latest rally was put on edge after a huge haul of explosives was found along with pro-independence protest leaflets on Saturday. |
| The same day, a counter-rally in support of the police and against protest violence drew tens of thousands. | The same day, 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. |