Police strongly condemn massive violent and vandalistic acts
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     A large group of masked rioters committed destructive acts extensively across Hong Kong in an organised manner yesterday (October 13). They blocked roads illegally, launched attacks targeting police officers and threw a large number of petrol bombs at police stations and police vehicles. Police strongly condemn the rioters who disregarded the law and order, and breached the public peace.
      
     Since 2pm yesterday, various groups of masked protestors had gathered at malls and roads in various districts across Hong Kong. Later, the protestors escalated their violent acts. They blocked roads with miscellaneous objects and committed destructive acts, paralysing the traffic in various districts in Hong Kong.
      
     There were violent acts targeting Police officers and facilities yesterday, seriously threatening the safety of officers.
      
     At around 4.30pm, rioters in Sha Tin threw petrol bombs from height targeting a police vehicle, which put the vehicle on fire.
      
     At about 5.30pm, a Police officer attending to a criminal damage case at Kwun Tong MTR station was wounded by a rioter who slashed the officer’s neck from behind with a sharp-edged object. Police immediately arrested two persons at scene. Sustaining neck injury, the officer was sent to United Christian Hospital for treatment.
      
     At around 7pm, rioters smashed the window of a police private car parked on Dundas Street near Nathan Road. The vehicle was used by Identification Bureau officers who were handling a non-protest-related burglary case.  About half an hour later, two plain-clothes police officers on duty in Tseung Kwan O were surrounded by rioters.  When the two officers tried to leave the scene, they were attacked by rioters.  Some rioters used hard objects to hit the heads of the two officers repeatedly.  Sustaining head injuries, both officers were sent to Tseung Kwan O Hospital in conscious state.
      
     At around 8pm, explosion sound was heard when a police vehicle passed by Nathan Road.  Rioters also hurled over 20 petrol bombs at Mong Kok Police Station at night.
      
     Rioters committed destructive acts in various districts.  They vandalised traffic lights, MTR stations, government buildings, offices of District Councillors, automatic teller machines and shops in malls in various districts.  Some rioters threw objects onto the rail track at Sha Tin MTR Station.  Such acts neglected the safety of passengers as the station was in operation at the material time.  Also, rioters surrounded and scolded citizens with opposing political views.  Some rioters sprayed black paint or hurled unknown liquid on members of the public.
      
     In the dispersal operation yesterday, Police used tear gases, rubber bullets, bean bag rounds, 40mm react rounds, etc., to stop the illegal acts of the protestors.
      
     Police strongly condemn the rioters' violent and vandalistic acts which completely disregard law and order. The continued vandalism is seriously affecting public order and people’s daily living.  Police reiterate that no violent behaviour will be tolerated. Police will continue to take resolute enforcement action so as to safeguard the city’s public safety and bring all lawbreakers to justice.
 

Ends/Monday, October 14, 2019
Issued at HKT 2:43

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