Pitched battles on Hong Kong streets and inside shopping malls as police move to clear extradition bill protesters after stand-off
- At least seven police injured, and an unknown number of demonstrators, after riot personnel move in to clear hundreds of protesters
- Violence followed a Sunday afternoon rally through the centre of Sha Tin attended by tens of thousands
Hong Kong’s northern town of Sha Tin was shaken by unprecedented violence on Sunday night as protesters and police fought pitched battles in shopping centres and on the streets.
Television screens across the city showed stunning images of police officers being surrounded and assaulted by groups of youths in masks and helmets, while protesters were also beaten and pepper sprayed in scenes of chaos across three shopping malls.
The violence followed a Sunday afternoon rally through the centre of the town attended by tens of thousands.
Hours after the march ended, riot police pepper sprayed several protesters inside the New Town Plaza mall at around 10pm, while minutes earlier an angry mob had set upon an officer who had been separated from colleagues.
Police arrested 33 people outside Sha Tin Town Hall on suspicion of unlawful assembly.