At least 45 injured as rod-wielding mob dressed in white rampages through Yuen Long MTR station, beating screaming protesters
- Blood smeared on floor in chilling attacks against demonstrators on train and around station
- By 7am, at least 45 people had been sent to hospital or had sought treatment, according to the Hospital Authority
At least 45 people were injured in unprecedented late-night violence at a Hong Kong railway station on Sunday, as a rampaging mob of men in white T-shirts attacked black-clad protesters and passengers indiscriminately.
No police officer was in sight as dozens of men, who witnesses suggested were triad gangsters, stormed into Yuen Long MTR station at around midnight by forcing open closed entrances.
They hurled objects at protesters and travellers alike, and assaulted members of the public, including journalists.
Some people protected themselves with umbrellas, while others tried to fight back by hurling helmets at them. By the time riot police arrived, local residents were furious and accused them of deliberately letting the assailants run wild.
By 7am, at least 45 people had been sent to one of four nearby hospitals or had sought treatment there themselves, according to the Hospital Authority.
Trains had been bypassing the station since 11pm because of a previous rampage by the same or a similar mob of men in white T-shirts attacking protesters returning from another anti-government mass march against the now-suspended extradition bill in the heart of the city’s financial district.