Violent protesters create "black terror", throw about 100 petrol bombs: HK security chief

Rioters throw petrol bombs at the police in Causeway Bay, China's Hong Kong, on Aug. 31, 2019. (Xinhua)

Rioters hurled about 100 petrol bombs and set fire on several places on Saturday, Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government Lee Ka-chiu said, adding that such violent acts posed a serious threat to the safety of people.

HONG KONG, Sept. 2 -- Violent protesters attacked and beat up people with different views to create "black terror," a senior official of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government said on Monday.

Secretary for Security Lee Ka-chiu told a press conference that over the past two days, radical protesters have caused severe damages, and the escalating and expanding violence had undermined the operation, order and rule of law of Hong Kong.

About 100 petrol bombs were hurled by rioters on Saturday, who also set fire on several places, said Lee, adding that such violent acts posed a serious threat to the safety of people.

Two petrol bombs were found among the belongings of a 13-year-old suspect and a batch of petrol bombs were also seized by police on the platform of a Mass Transit Railways (MTR) station.

If the MTR station was set ablaze, the consequences would be very serious, said Lee, urging the Hong Kong public to speak out against violence.

The police had rejected the application of a public procession on Hong Kong Island on Saturday to ensure the safety of residents and public order after several similar events turned extremely violent since early June.

However, protesters on Saturday defied the police ban by occupying downtown roads. During their marches, some radical protesters smashed traffic lights and dismantled roadside railings to set up barricades to confront the police.

Black-clad rioters who wore mask and helmet attempted to storm the headquarters compound of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government and the Legislative Council, using slingshots to fire petrol bombs and other objects into the buildings before they set fire on a main street near the Hong Kong police headquarters.

Rioters confronted police in various areas on Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Territories, hurling petrol bombs in different places and attacking police personnel with corrosive liquid and bricks.

They also set fire in different locations, vandalized public property, set up barricades, and damaged facilities at MTR stations such as platform screen doors. The fire set up by arsonists at Hennessy Road was very fierce at one point, reaching the height of overbridge and posing serious danger to residents nearby.