Suspected arson attack follows clashes at Mong Kok Occupy zone
Tensions and violence at the Occupy Central sit-in rally site in Mong Kong escalated yesterday.
Tensions and violence at the Occupy Central sit-in rally site in Mong Kong escalated yesterday as opponents attempted to remove barriers set up by the protesters, followed by a man’s attempt to set fire to their supplies.
Later, fresh scuffles broke out, with protesters clashing with their opponents at various corners of the protest zone. And as a public forum got under way, four bags of what was suspected to be faeces and oil tumbled down onto the audience from a building above.
A total of seven arrests were made.
The alleged arson attempt took place at about 6.45pm, when a middle-aged man turned up with a bag full of flammable substances. Witnesses said he threw three glass jars of thinner at protesters standing near a supply station and whipped out a lighter, but failed to set the supplies ablaze. Protesters overpowered the man and detained him until police arrived.
One fire engine was dispatched.