The clashes that took place on Sunday, August 25, in the suburbs of Tsuen Wan, were among the most violent since June marking the beginning of the anti-government movement whose almost daily events shake Hong Kong.

Police said on Monday that they arrested 36 people, the youngest of whom was 12, after the clashes. It also justified the first use of water cannons and the shooting of a shot at the gun the day before, after more than two months of pro-democracy protest, blaming protesters "extremely violent. "

A warning shot in the air

At nightfall on Sunday, a group of police officers were trapped by armed protesters, including brick, who threatened them, police said in a statement. A police officer fell to the ground in a shower of blows, prompting six of his colleagues to unsheathe their handguns and "fire a warning shot in the air." This is the first time that a real bullet has been fired since the beginning of the crisis, raising fears that it will become worse and take on a more violent turn. The police also confirmed the first use of two vehicles with water cannons to disperse protesters.

In a statement, the government denounced an escalation "of illegal and violent actions by radical protesters who are not only scandalous but also push Hong Kong on the brink of a very dangerous situation."

The shooting of a real ball angered the public and inflamed social networks where a police spokesman was derided for extolling the "brave and restrained" behavior of the riot police on Sunday.

The protest movement continues

Sunday's afternoon began with a peaceful march of hundreds of protesters under their umbrellas through Tsuen Wan before clashes erupted in the early evening between radical protesters, dressed in black, wearing helmets and masks. gas and law enforcement, trading molotov cocktails against tear gas.

The semi-autonomous territory, one of the world's major financial centers, has been experiencing its most serious political crisis since June, when it was handed over to China in 1997. Born out of opposition to a now-suspended bill to allow extradition to In mainland China, the movement has become a broader campaign for a more democratic system and the protection of freedoms.

With AFP and Reuters