- Title: Hong Kong protesters take violence to new 'life-threatening' level, say police
- Date: 14th October 2019
- Summary: HONG KONG, CHINA (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** HONG KONG POLICE OFFICIALS ENTERING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, TANG PING-KEUNG, SAYING: "What's more alarming is that rioters have escalated their violence against the police officer. In one of the worst attacks, a rioter stepped on our officer's neck at close range. This attack shows intent to take his life." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, TANG PING-KEUNG, SAYING: "Thirdly, rioters violence against police officer has reached a life-threatening level, and on one occasion last night rioters threw as many as 20 petrol bombs at the Mong Kok police station. And over in Sha Tin, rioters threw petrol bombs at moving police vehicle and setting them on fire. And this not only the put police officers but every other road user at great risk." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS HONG KONG POLICE LOGO (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, TANG PING-KEUNG, SAYING: "I must reiterate these people doing violence acts are not protesters, they are indeed rioters and criminals that are destroying our rule of law. Whatever causes they claim they are fighting for can never justify such Triad-like behavior." POLICE OFFICIALS LEAVING NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM
- Embargoed: 28th October 2019 13:40
- Keywords: Hong Kong China police demonstration protest violence
- Location: HONG KONG, CHINA
- City: HONG KONG, CHINA
- Country: Hong Kong
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B12HUTJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Violent pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong have escalated to a "life-threatening level", police said on Monday (October 14), after a small bomb exploded and a police officer was stabbed in clashes overnight.
Peaceful rallies descended into chaos in the Chinese-ruled city on Sunday (October 13) with running skirmishes between protesters and police in shopping malls and on the streets.
Black-clad activists threw 20 petrol bombs at one police station, while others trashed shops and metro stations.
A crude explosive device, which police said was similar to those used in "terrorist attacks", was remotely detonated as a police car drove past and officers were clearing roadblocks on Sunday night.
Hong Kong has been rocked by four months of often huge and violent protests against what is seen as Beijing's tightening grip on the city.
The unrest has plunged the city into its worst crisis since Britain handed it back to China in 1997 and poses the biggest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.
(Production: Yuddy Cahya Budiman) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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