This post has been updated.
Hong Kong’s riot police are breaking out the pepper spray once again after a throng of pro-democracy protesters descended on Mong Kok, in downtown Kowloon. The violence erupted hours after Alex Chow, the leader of the Federation of Students, confirmed that his group (paywall) would hold talks with the government next Tuesday (the government had pulled out of a previous round of talks). Here’s a sum-up from the streets:
Another umbrella vs. riot shield standoff unfolding, this time northbound on Nathan Rd. #OccupyHK pic.twitter.com/3hXc9EcZiT
— Tom Grundy (@tomgrundy) October 17, 2014
In a surprise raid in the wee hours of this morning, police drove out demonstrators from a major Mong Kok intersection, which they’ve been holding since then.
Plainly many of these police are exhausted. pic.twitter.com/6ptDE9nWcB
— Chris Buckley 储百亮 (@ChuBailiang) October 17, 2014
Joshua Wong, the leader of another student group, Scholarism, urged protesters to move from Admiralty, in downtown Hong Kong, to Mong Kok to defend the occupation zone there, reports the South China Morning Post (paywall). After work and school let out, large crowds of protesters arrived late Friday night (Hong Kong time) in an effort to retake sections of the road.
Police desperately trying to keep the roads open as thousands crush the streets in Mongkok. #OccupyHK pic.twitter.com/cZlGB5LjWe
— Josh Noble (@JoshTANoble) October 17, 2014
Impromptu light show as students sing unofficial theme song of umbrella movement, Beyond’s “under the vast sky” pic.twitter.com/xADwmPjo9Z
— Ed Flanagan (@edmundflanagan) October 17, 2014
Protesters outside Langham Place in Mong Kok #OccupyCentral #OccupyHK pic.twitter.com/P2SBfaVbym
— Fion Li (@fion_li) October 17, 2014
“Our strategy was to arrive all at once so we wouldn’t be dragged off as easily by police,” one protestor told reporter Joanna Chiu. Riot police reinforcements arrived to hold the intersection.
As they tried to penetrate police lines, police met them with pepper spray.
Police are using batons and riot shields as well.
Many protesters shielded themselves from the pepper spray with umbrellas.
All we have are umbrellas and determination against your weapons.
Credit: HKU CTV
#occupyhk #umbrellamovement pic.twitter.com/uqD2C9yeVS— 學聯 HKFS (@HKFS1958) October 17, 2014
Others have fared less well.
Fellow journalist working to clean out the eyes of the reporter who got pepper sprayed just now. pic.twitter.com/GTVd4rfZy0
— Ed Flanagan (@edmundflanagan) October 17, 2014
First aid at the southern side of the main protest site. Pepper spray used a lot. pic.twitter.com/trwBdyKVLG
— Leo Weese 狮 草地 (@LeoAW) October 17, 2014
Several police officers have been injured as well, says the SCMP.
Police are now yelling, “You have been encircled, surrender now!” according to sources at the protest.
Police charging and grabbing protesters’ umbrellas
Credit: Dash
#occupyhk #umbrellamovement pic.twitter.com/bVtdbwMEvy— 學聯 HKFS (@HKFS1958) October 17, 2014
Journalists stand on barricade between protesters & police #OccupyHK.
Red warning banner being unfurled. pic.twitter.com/aQABNguLG5— Tom Grundy (@tomgrundy) October 17, 2014
Update (12.08pm EST): The police appear to have retreated:
Police had to retreat as masses of people storm Nathan Road #OccupyCentral #UmbrellaRevolution pic.twitter.com/sKpjNGUoRq
— Freakingcat (@freakingcat) October 17, 2014
Follow a livestream of Mong Kok here or here.
Mayhem is breaking out in Hong Kong again as protesters stand off against police
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