Hong Kong protests: Police officer mobbed by crowd pulls gun on protesters amid violent clashes at airport
Journalist detained by demonstrators as anger grows
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Your support makes all the difference.Hong Kong police officers and pro-democracy protesters have clashed at the city’s airport as anti-government demonstrations continue.
Operations at the airport were severely disrupted for a second day. The scuffles broke out in the evening between police and protesters, after an injured person was taken out of the main terminal by medics.
Several police vehicles were blocked by protesters, and riot police moved in, pushing some protesters back and using pepper spray at times.
Protesters detained two men, declaring that both were suspected undercover police officers who had infiltrated the crowds.
Hong Kong’s police force had earlier claimed to have infiltrated the protesters’ ranks.
Medics removed one man, but another was held for two hours.
His wrists were bound and water poured over his body, after a mainland China card was found in his bag.
The man told the crowd he was a journalist from China.
Eventually emergency services brought the man out of the terminal.
If you would like to see how the protests unfolded, please see what was our live coverage below:
Carrie Lam has said dialogue between Hong Kong's government and protesters will only begin when the violence ended.
She reiterated her support for police and said they have had to make quick decisions under difficult circumstances, using "the lowest level of force."
"After the violence has been stopped, and the chaotic situation that we are seeing could subside," Ms Lam said.
"I as the chief executive will be responsible to rebuild Hong Kong's economy ... to help Hong Kong to move on."
She did not elaborate on what conciliatory steps her government will take.
"Over recent weeks, mass protests against proposed changes to extradition law in Hong Kong have escalated into a major crisis. In the latest round of protests, tens of thousands took the streets," writes our opinion columnist Qing Cao.
"In the West, the media has reported this as a struggle for basic rights and freedoms.
"In China, coverage has been limited as the protests are perceived to be negative. But in what restricted reporting that there has been, the perspective is very different from the West, and reflects deep-seated Chinese views about colonial interference in Hong Kong."
Read more here:
"Large numbers of Chinese paramilitary forces have been filmed assembling just 30km (18.6 miles) from Hong Kong in the city of Shenzhen, as riot police clashed with protesters occupying the airport for a second day," reports Adam Withnall.
"The scuffles broke out in the evening between police and protesters, after paramedics attempted reach an injured man whom protesters had detained on suspicion of being an undercover agent.
"Several police vehicles were also blocked by protesters, and riot police moved in, pushing some protesters back and using pepper spray and batons at times. Demonstrators reacted by throwing bottles and other projectiles. A number of people were arrested."
Read more about the military build up here:
The Vamps, a British pop band, have been caught up in ongoing pro-democracy protests taking place in Hong Kong.
James McVey and Brad Simpson from the UK band have spoken about being grounded at the busy airport amid continued demonstrations.
The musicians have said they do not resent the hold-up and have voiced their "pro-democracy" stance.
Local media in Hong Kong is reporting that an injunction had been issued by a local court to clear the airport of protesters.
The action followed an unprecedented shutdown of the airport on Monday.
Hong Kong's Airport Authority said operations had also been "seriously disrupted" on Tuesday and departing passengers had been unable to reach immigration counters.
The weeks of protests began as opposition to a now-suspended bill that would have allowed suspects to be extradited to mainland China and have swelled into wider calls for democracy.
Demonstrators say they are fighting the erosion of the "one country, two systems" arrangement that enshrined some autonomy for Hong Kong since China took it back from Britain in 1997.
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