Hong Kong police shoot man in day of violence and chaos
In another incident, a pro-Beijing supporter was set on fire after arguing with protesters. …
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A policeman has shot a protester during another day of violent demonstrations in Hong Kong.
Footage posted on Facebook showed the officer drawing his gun before grappling with a man at a roadblock.
When another man approached wearing a face mask, the officer fired at him, hitting him in the torso.
In another incident, a pro-Beijing supporter was doused in flammable liquid and set on fire after arguing with protesters.
He is in a critical condition.
There have been a number of other flashpoints during the day, with police firing rubber bullets and tear gas in others parts of Hong Kong.
At one point, tear gas was fired in the central business district – a rare occurrence during working hours on a weekday.
What happened at the shooting?
The shooting occurred as protesters tried to block a junction at Sai Wan Ho on the north-east of the island. Police confirmed that one officer “discharged his service revolver” and that a man was shot.
The officer fired twice more, but there were no injuries.
After the shooting, footage showed the 21-year old protester lying with his eyes wide open and with blood around him.
He has undergone surgery and remains in a critical condition, a Hospital Authority spokesman told the BBC.
The police said officers also drew firearms from their holsters in two other places.
But they denied what they called “totally false and malicious” reports that officers were ordered to “recklessly use their firearms” in Monday’s operations.
It was the third time a police officer shot someone with live rounds since the Hong Kong protests began in June.
The first incident was during protests on 1 October when China was celebrating 70 years of communist rule. The second case was a teenage boy shot in the leg on 4 October.
At the scene
Stephen McDonell, BBC China correspondent
The pedestrian crossing in Sai Wan Ho, where the young protester was shot, has become a site of considerable tension.
Activists have built barricades across the junction – and when riot police come they face a torrent of abuse from bystanders of all ages.
Blood can still be seen on the street – and next to it graffiti reading “we shall never surrender”.
Each time the riot police leave, the demonstrators return to erect their barricades again.
Hong Kong’s political crisis – now in its fifth month – continues to become more violent.
What else has happened on Monday?
While most protests have taken place at weekends, protesters called for a general strike – that is, all workers not to work – on Monday.
In addition to the shooting and the man being set on fire, other incidents included:
- At the Chinese University, police fired rubber bullets in response to protesters throwing bricks
- At Hong Kong Polytechnic, police fired tear gas at a demonstration
- Police used tear gas to disperse protesters in the central business district
- Protesters used barricades to block roads in various places, leading to long traffic jams. MTR railway stations were also targeted
- Police say protesters dropped “large and heavy objects” on roads, endangering drivers
- In one video circulating online, a police motorcycle seems intentionally to ram into protesters.
Police described the activists as “radical protesters,” conducting “extensive illegal acts” and urged them to stop any actions that threaten safety and obstruct the police.
Several universities have cancelled their classes for the day.
The latest violence comes after a student died in hospital last Friday after falling from a ledge in a car park, reportedly trying to flee from police tear gas.
Why are there protests in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is part of China but as a former British colony it has some autonomy and people have more rights.
The protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to the mainland – which many feared would undermine the city’s freedoms.
The bill was withdrawn in September but demonstrations continued and now call for full democracy and an inquiry into police behaviour.
Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent and in October the city banned all face masks.
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