Police shoot A Hong Kong protester as protesters blocked roads and train lines during the morning commute.
The shooting is very likely to wreak havoc further in this semi-autonomous Chinese territory after a student who collapsed during a previous protest on Friday, succumbed to his injuries.
The video reveals a police officer shooing away a bunch of protesters in the intersection, then pointing his gun on a masked protester in a hooded sweatshirt who approaches him.
Another protester in black comes, and the officer points his gun at the second protester. And fires at the stomach area of the protester, who falls to the floor. The officer seemed to fire again as a third protester in black joined the fight.
The protester in white handles to flee, jumping up stairway, the officers push the two in black into the floor.
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Police said that 1 protester was hit, and he was operating in a hospital. A spokesperson for the Hong Kong hospital authority said the man shot was in critical condition but gave no additional specifics.
Hong Kong is in the almost sixth month of protests that started over a planned extradition law and now included demands for police responsibility and democracy. Activists say the autonomy of Hong Kong and Western-style civil liberties, guaranteed when the former British colony returned to China in 1997, are eroding.
Cupid Producer, an outlet that began last year and appeared to post mainly videos associated with local news, posted the video of Monday’s shooting on Facebook.
The shooting happened at an intersection strewn with debris that had visitors in Sai Wan Ho on the eastern portion of Hong Kong Island in a crosswalk.
Protesters interrupted subway and commuter railroad services and blocked intersections. The railroad operator, MTR, suspended service, and broadcaster RTHK reported that a fire had been set inside a train at Kwai Fong station.
In a press release, the Hong Kong authorities said authorities had been reacting to disruptions and vandalism to traffic, such as protesters throwing heavy objects from above on streets.
“During police actions, one police officer has discharged his service revolver, 1 man was shot,” the release stated, adding that officers also drew their firearms at the Shatin and Tung Chung neighborhoods.
He denied the rumors stating police had been ordered to”recklessly use their firearms,” calling the allegation”totally malicious and false.”
“All police officers need to explain their enforcement activities,” the statement said.
Masked protesters continued to try to block different intersections in the region. Police followed them with pepper spray, hitting some bystanders.
On Sunday, police fired tear gas shells, and protesters deliberately destroyed some shops across Hong Kong. They targeted businesses whose owners damaged the Sha Tin train station and considered as pro-Beijing.
Police said they detained at least 88 people, including possession of an unlawful weapon, criminal damage, and covering masks at an illegal assembly.
The city had shaken by the death of a student who fell from a parking garage when police fired tear gas at protesters.
The city is preparing for Nov. 24 district council elections, which are viewed as a measure of public sentiment supporting the government.
Lawmakers blame the government for trying to provoke violence to warrant postponing or canceling the elections.
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