Hundreds of protesters stormed Hong Kong’s parliament late Monday as the territory marked its China handover anniversary, ransacking the building and daubing its walls with graffiti as police warned they were poised to use “appropriate force” to clear the area.
The financial hub has been plunged into unprecedented political chaos after three weeks of record-breaking demonstrations against a hugely unpopular bill that would allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland.
Tens of thousands of democracy activists staged another peaceful march on Monday afternoon, calling for the city’s pro-Beijing leader to step down and reverse what they see as years of sliding freedoms.
But late Monday young, masked protesters wearing hard hats, managed to breach the legislature after clashes with riot police, ending two weeks of relative calm.
Once inside they tore down portraits of the city’s leaders, hoisted a British colonial era flag in the main chamber and sprayed the city crest with black paint.
“There are no violent protesters, just tyranny,” one banner that was hoisted above the podium read.
“Hong Kong is not China,” read another.
Riot police appeared to have abandoned the building, which had been on lockdown.
But shortly after the breach, Hong Kong police warned they were ready to expel the protesters from the parliament using “appropriate force” if they encountered “obstruction or resistance.”
– Police ultimatum –
Anti-government demonstrators broke into the complex after hours of attempts, early on using a metal cart as a battering ram and wielding steel poles to prize open gaps in the reinforced windows.
Many protesters said they felt compelled to take the action because the city’s pro-Beijing leaders had ignored public sentiment following marches against the loathed extradition law.
