AN unarmed illegal immigrant was shot twice by a police officer yesterday after the man allegedly reached for the officer's gun.
The officer, 22, and one of a group of five illegal immigrants became isolated during a chase involving a border patrol team on the banks of the Ng Tung River near the Lowu railway line in Sheung Shui.
'There was a violent struggle and the illegal immigrant twice tried to take the officer's gun out of its holster. The officer, who was on his own, felt his life was threatened,' acting District Commander Senior Superintendent Richard Tudor said.
'He really had no other means of defending himself. Our officers don't carry batons, so apart from using his hands . . . it was really a very desperate struggle - obviously this man was desperate not to be arrested,' he said.
Two other illegal immigrants escaped, while another two were captured by the border control team.
The injured illegal immigrant last night was in a poor condition in the Prince of Wales Hospital. The officer was taken to Fanling Hospital after he was allegedly struck in the face by the immigrant. He was released after treatment.
