Unlawful assemblies in different parts of Hong Kong turned violent again on Sunday evening as rampant black-clad, masked rioters blocked roads, attacked bystanders and vandalised public and private facilities.
Violent incidents took place in areas including the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon since Sunday afternoon, participated by many who wore face covering despite an anti-mask ban that went into effect on Saturday.
They occupied carriageways and built barricades to disrupt traffic in areas including Wan Chai, Central, Admiralty and Shum Shui Po. Some dug up bricks from pavements, and some squatted under unfurled umbrellas in the middle of vehicle lanes in defiance of police warnings.
Residents fell victims to wanton rioters. As of 7 p.m. local time, at least four people were injured and sent to the hospital, three of them in serious condition, according to the Hong Kong Hospital Authority.
After a traffic accident, a taxi driver was dragged out of his car and beaten by rioters in Sham Shui Po. He reportedly suffered from serious injuries, with bleeding in his head and bone fractures. A man was badly injured by rioters near Nathan Road. A picture showed him lying unconsciously on the ground with his head and face covered by blood.
In Mong Kok, an actress whose stage name is Celine Ma Tai-lo was attacked by masked men when she was taking pictures of some rioters damaging ATM machines at a Bank of China branch. Footage from local channel TVB showed the actress’ mouth and neck were bleeding, while some black-clad rioters were still scolding and pushing her and pointing laser beams at her face.
In Wan Chai, some rioters hurled multiple petrol bombs at the police but hit a journalist at the scene, setting his raincoat on fire. Local radio RTHK later confirmed that the victim is one of its journalists, and he was sent to Ruttonjee Hospital.
The police said in a statement that such atrocities committed by the rioters were far beyond the bottom line of any civilised society, and warned the rioters to stop all illegal acts.
Protesters blocked multiple roads on Sunday to disrupt traffic in Hong Kong that is still reeling from the widespread violence and vandalism on Friday night. -Xinhua
