Hong Kong police deny accusation they colluded with thugs who attacked passengers at train station, as one lawmaker calls incident ‘terrorism’
- Protesters question why it took officers so long to arrive at site of violent attacks and want to know why no one was arrested
- Chief Superintendent John Tse says delay does not equal collusion and numbers involved meant first police on scene had to wait for backup
Hong Kong’s embattled police force faced a barrage of criticism on Monday for failing to stop a rampaging mob of men, who attacked anti-government protesters and terrorised passengers at a train station on Sunday night.
About 30 protesters demonstrated at a police station in northern Hong Kong on Monday, and accused officers of colluding with those who carried out the attack.
Hundreds of social workers later marched on the same Yuen Long station to hand over what they said was criminal evidence of gang members assaulting residents, and to lodge police misconduct complaints.
They were accompanied on the march by 30 officers, as requested by the demonstrators, who feared being attacked.
The groups claimed police failed to act in a timely manner when scores of thugs dressed in white T-shirts descended into Yuen Long MTR station and attacked passengers, especially those in black T-shirts.
It is believed they wanted to target those who were on their way home from the extradition bill march in Causeway Bay earlier that day.
