Hong Kong: This is the dramatic moment where dozens of protesters manage to break the riot police siege at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) using rope ladders before being picked up and driven away by motorcyclists in solidarity (18 November 2019) Today (19/11) up to 200 anti-government protesters remain barricaded inside a Hong Kong university, surrounded by police, as the standoff continues for a third day. Those who are still inside Polytechnic University (PolyU) is said to be running low on supplies.
Protesters have been inside the campus since last week, initially stopping police from entering by flaming barricades, molotovs, even catapults throwing stones and bows and arrows.
Hundreds of protesters tried to run from the campus on Monday, but many were hit with tear gas and rubber bullets and were arrested.
Police have revealed that on Monday alone (18 November 2019), they used against protesters inside the Polytechnic campus:
1,458 tear gas canisters
1,391 rubber bullets
325 bean bag rounds
265 sponge bullets
What is happening on Tuesday (19 November 2019)
An estimated 100 to 200 protesters still remain in PolyU, authorities have said.
One protester told the mass media that he was hiding in a building on the campus. "I have been trapped inside Polytechnic University for two days and food and water is running out," he said." Most people tried to get out of this hell-like place, most of them tried to escape but ended in failure, being arrested or wounded or something."
Monday 18 November 2019
The campus of a Hong Kong university transformed into an apocalyptic scene on Monday as riot police armed with tear gas and rubber bullets surrounded pro-democracy protesters.
The standoff between authorities and protesters at Hong Kong Polytechnic University has turned into one of the fiercest, most violent conflicts in the nearly six months of protests in the autonomous territory.
What began as a movement to block a controversial extradition bill morphed into a sustained call for greater democratic rights in Hong Kong and a pushback against the growing influence of China. The demonstrations have grown increasingly tense in recent weeks. Last week, police shot a protester.
Protesters have been occupying parts of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus since last week, but the confrontation with police escalated dramatically on Sunday and into Monday, turning the campus into a war zone. Protesters hunkered down and barricaded themselves against police, flinging firebombs and debris and even firing arrows at riot police. Police threatened to use live ammunition in response.
Early Monday local time, riot police rushed the campus, effectively trapping hundreds of demonstrators inside. Authorities cornered the activists and delivered an ultimatum, calling on them to surrender or face a barrage of tear gas. Police said those who do surrender will face arrest and potential charges of rioting, which means individuals could face up to 10 years in prison.
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