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Published November 19, 2014

November 19, 2014: A protester rests as others hold shields after they tried to break into the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu)

HONG KONG Tension spiked at democracy protests that have gripped Hong Kong for nearly two months as police arrested four men early Wednesday after a small group of activists tried to force their way into the city's legislature in overnight clashes.

The arrests came after authorities cleared some barricades a day earlier from a small section of a site occupied by pro-democracy activists for more than 50 days.

Police used pepper spray, batons and riot shields against the umbrella-wielding protesters wearing masks, goggles and hardhats, who they said repeatedly charged their cordon and injured three officers.

The protesters used metal barricades and concrete slabs to smash glass doors at the legislature before officers police rushed in to push them back.

Pro-democracy lawmaker Fernando Cheung tried to intervene but was pulled aside by some protesters so that others could continue ramming the glass.

Cheung told reporters that he saw one person enter the building.

The violence apparently involved protesters who organized their action through an Internet forum with a reputation for attracting people with radical views.

Cheung and other lawmakers from the so-called "pan-democrat" camp condemned the violence, saying it undermined the non-violent civil disobedience movement.

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Four arrested after group of Hong Kong protesters storm city's legislature