This archive report was first published on 26 August 2019.
Published on August 26, 2019
Months of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong have taken a violent turn, prompting police to fire a water cannon and a warning shot to disperse demonstrators.
On Sunday, clashes in the suburb of Tsuen Wan were some of the worst in twelve weeks of political unrest, with protesters armed with bricks and other weapons cornering a group of officers.
According to a police statement, an officer fell to the ground under a barrage of blows and 'facing threats to life', six policemen drew their side arms and one 'fired a warning shot into the sky', believed to be the first live round fired by an officer during the crisis.
Police also confirmed that they deployed two water cannon vehicles, whose jets hit the barricades as demonstrators ran for cover.
As a result of the clashes, 15 officers were injured, and dozens of protesters were arrested, including a 12-year-old, for unlawful assembly, possession of weapons, and assaulting police.
Police have vowed 'relentless action' to bring the perpetrators to justice, but their actions have been met with criticism from social media users who mocked a police spokesman's earlier praise for the 'valiant and restrained' actions of riot cops.
