Two Hong Kong men hit with riot charges over attack on anti-government protesters at Yuen Long MTR station
- At least 45 people were injured in the assault, which targeted people returning from a protest but also involved passers-by
- The pair will appear in court on Friday
Two of the 28 men arrested over an attack on anti-government protesters at a Hong Kong railway station have been charged with taking part in a riot, police said on Thursday.
The charges were the first in relation to last month’s incident. The force said the two men, aged 48 and 54, would appear in Fanling Court on Friday.
The pair were among 28 suspects arrested for unlawful assembly between July 22 and August 15 following the attack at Yuen Long MTR station on July 21 in which at least 45 people were injured.
More than 100 armed men wearing white T-shirts targeted black-clad protesters returning from an anti-government rally late on July 21. Other passengers were also attacked.
The other suspects – who, like the newly charged pair, were arrested on the less serious charge of unlawful assembly – had been released on bail pending further investigation. Rioting carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail, while unlawful assembly sentences are capped at five years.