Hong Kong police drive out pro-democracy protesters in violent clashes
A protester lies on the stairway as police try to remove him and others from a tube station near government headquarters in Hong Kong on Monday. Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP
Hong Kong police reclaimed swaths of an area occupied by pro-democracy protesters on Monday morning after hours of intense clashes which led to scores of injuries and arrests.
The clashes were perhaps the most violent since the movement began two months ago. Police baton charges left some protesters prostrate and bleeding, while volleys of pepper spray left others vomiting and temporarily blind. At least 40 people were arrested and 40 taken to hospital; one officer was knocked out cold in a scuffle and taken away on a stretcher.
The police action began at about 8am local time (midnight GMT) when officers took a flyover above the protest encampment, removed a line of hanging pro-democracy banners, and cheered loudly to celebrate their advance. Protesters below hurled insults and held up their middle fingers.
An hour and a half later, the scene had calmed somewhat, although about 500 protesters remained at the site, some hurling insults at lines of police in full riot gear.
Vinki Tsang, a 20-year-old psychology student, spent the morning picking up debris from a part of flyover still accessible to protesters.
We do not know what we can do but we just want to try and clean up a little, said Tsang, both of her knees bandaged from Sunday nights street battle. Last night I was very scared. Now I am looking for ways to contribute again to our fight for democracy. I do not understand why the police are so brutal with us they are Hong Kongers too, they will benefit from the results of our battle as well.
A 24-year-old office worker who only gave her English name, Sony, said: The police have lost all self-control. I feel dejected because it is obvious that our methods are not working with them. But since we are not ready to take up arms, we have to think about what we can do to make the situation advance.
The Hong Kong chief executive, Leung Chun-ying, on Monday said police would now take resolute action, adding: Some people have mistaken the polices tolerance for weakness. He urged students not to return to occupation sites, but did not respond when asked by reporters whether police would clear the sites on Monday night.
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Hong Kong police drive out pro-democracy protesters in violent clashes