Some riot police (left) raised pepper ball guns and fired pepper bombs at the demonstrators at a close range of about two meters. Dozens of demonstrators were forced to retreat to the escalator, and the scene was full of wailing.

Some riot police (left) raised pepper ball guns and fired continuously at demonstrators at a close range of about two meters

Yesterday's anti-revision demonstrations in Sham Shui Po and Causeway Bay turned into a multi-district flash mob action. The police changed their strategy of confronting the protesters. After dispersing, they used force to detain people: At MTR Kwai Fong Station, a police officer approached the gate Demonstrators fired tear gas and rubber bullets; at Tai Koo Station, riot police continuously fired pepper bombs at demonstrators within about two meters; Appearing in custody. Yesterday, many protesters suffered bloodshed, and one police officer was burned. Human rights groups strongly condemned the firing of tear gas by police indoors, saying it was extremely dangerous, a gross violation of guidelines and "completely inconsistent with the minimum force principle claimed by the police".

MTR: It is very regrettable that it may affect the safety of passengers

The MTR said in a statement that the police action is likely to affect the safety of passengers and MTR staff in the station, and it regrets this.

At about 8 o'clock last night, a group of demonstrators moved from Sham Shui Po to Kwai Chung Police Station. They dismantled iron bars to form roadblocks. A large number of riot police rushed to the scene to stand guard and forced some demonstrators to retreat to the Kwai Fong MTR station. A group of demonstrators turned from Tsim Sha Tsui Station to Kwai Fong Station, and riot police stationed at Exit A of Kwai Fong Station confronted the demonstrators. Some members of the public called on the police officers not to push forward, fearing that the citizens and children would be frightened. Afterwards, some protesters used fire hoses and fire extinguishers in the station to spray the police officers, and the police officers retreated for a while.

Citizens have called on the police not to advance

At about 9 o'clock, the police fired tear gas canisters to disperse the demonstrators on Kwai Yi Road outside Kwai Chung Police Station, and raised a black flag to warn outside Kwai Fong Station. At 9:07, a police officer rushed into Kwai Fong Station and fired several tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters inside the gate. Kwai Fong Station was filled with smoke. The protesters retreated to the platform and boarded the train to go Mobil.

Passenger with tear gas in head: no demonstrators around

Ms. Mak, a citizen who was about to take the MTR, was hit by a tear gas canister at Kwai Fong Station. She said that she was planning to get on the platform at the gate of Kwai Fong Station. When she looked back at the police, she felt a hard object hit her forehead with great force. There were no other demonstrators beside her, and the first responders treated her immediately. Since the wound was not deep, the bleeding was stopped after a simple bandage.

Protesters were beaten on the ground

The MTR announced at 9:00 that in response to a special accident at the station, special trains will be arranged for the Tsuen Wan Line to take passengers away from Kwai Fong Station, and other trains will not stop at Kwai Fong Station; at 10:43, it was announced that Kwai Fong Station would be closed for safety reasons. .

At about 10 p.m., another group of protesters transferred from Causeway Bay to Quarry Bay Station. After finding riot police officers at the exit of Quarry Bay Station, they transferred to Tai Koo Station. When the demonstrators were at Exit C of Taikoo Station, they encountered 10 to 20 riot police officers rushing into the station. Some media footage showed that police officers fired pepper bombs at demonstrators at a distance of about two meters. Dozens of demonstrators were forced to retreat to the escalator, and the scene was wailing. After some police officers subdued the demonstrators to the ground, they beat them with sticks several times, and some police officers chased and beat the demonstrators on the escalator.

Indoor tear gas can trigger acute bronchitis and asthma

Xu Shuchang, Chair Professor of Respiratory System at the Faculty of Medicine of CUHK, said that when tear gas is released indoors, "the concentration of the chemical will be much higher than outdoor", which will aggravate the irritation to the human respiratory mucosa and nerve lines, and "may cause acute bronchitis and asthma." , and indoor tear gas is more likely to hit pedestrians, "strong impact, can be fatal." As for whether the station will be open for public use within the day, "it will depend on the cleaning progress of the MTR." The MTR should thoroughly clean the ventilation system (including filters), floors and walls, otherwise tear gas will remain." go away". He added that Bahrain, a Middle Eastern country, has tried tear gas canisters into the room, resulting in death of respiratory failure; Nepal has also tried a demonstrator to be shot in the head by a tear gas canister outdoors.

Manufacturer: Tear gas can only be used outdoors or in ventilated places

Civil Rights Watch contact Wang Haoxian strongly condemned the police for firing multiple tear gas canisters inside the Kwai Fong Station area. He stressed that according to the safety guidelines of the supplier of tear gas grenades used by the police, tear gas grenades can only be used outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.

A spokesman for the Hospital Authority said that as of 11:30 last night, a total of 9 men and 4 women, aged from 17 to 56, were injured and sent to hospital. After treatment, 4 people were hospitalized, 2 were in serious condition, 2 were stable, and the rest were discharged.