Beijing warns of ‘signs of terrorism’ in violent unrest in Hong Kong
- China’s top policy office on the city reiterates support for police, saying a ‘critical moment’ has been reached
- Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office also vows to crack down on violent crime with ‘iron fist’
Beijing on Monday warned that escalating violence by anti-government protesters in Hong Kong, especially against the police, was showing “signs of terrorism” and reiterated its support for the city’s force to take resolute action to crack down on “rioters”.
Yang Guang, a spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) under the State Council, read out a stern statement to Hong Kong media in Beijing, saying the city had come to a “critical moment” and vowing to clamp down on violent crime with an “iron fist”.
In particular, the spokesman condemned as reckless petrol bomb attacks on police stations by protesters that left an officer injured on Sunday.
“In recent days, Hong Kong’s radical protesters have repeatedly attacked police with highly dangerous tools, which constitute serious violent crimes and have started to show signs of terrorism,” Yang said. “This type of violent criminal activity must be resolutely combated according to the law, with no hesitation or mercy.”
The central government’s representative office in Hong Kong also described the escalating violence as “terrorist acts” in a separate statement.