Collision course set over threat to remove protest barriers
Protesters reinforce barricades as police prepare to clear them following violent clashes with masked men; taxi and truck drivers issue deadline
Democracy protesters in Admiralty are on collision course with police and a coalition of drivers that has vowed to remove their barricades after violent confrontations broke out yesterday.
With police expected to clear barriers in Causeway Bay and Queensway as early as daybreak today, protesters in Admiralty and Causeway Bay have reinforced their barricades with bamboo and cement.
Their action follows clashes yesterday in which hundreds of opponents of the Occupy movement - including about 50 men wearing facemasks - gathered in Queensway at about 1.30pm in an attempt to bring down the barricades.
Marching towards Central, the crowd demolished the barriers they passed with cutters. Clashes broke out with protesters and police officers who tried to stop them.
Dozens of taxis blocked the roads nearby in protest against the civil disobedience movement, which is now in its third week.
A police operation early yesterday successfully removed some barricades in Central and Mong Kok. A police source said force would be used to stop anyone obstructing officers in future attempts to remove the barriers.
