White-clad mob assaults protesters, bystanders in Yuen Long, Hong Kong
Hours after the latest anti-extradition bill march ended on Sunday night in Hong Kong, a gang of men in white shirts, armed with canes, batons, and other makeshift weapons, descended upon Yuen Long subway station in the northwestern part of the city, where they indiscriminately attacked protesters and commuters, injuring at least 45, including journalists, women, and children.
Gwyneth Ho of Stand News took this video:
https://twitter.com/hyjpang/status/1153002842145337346
Other videos from inside the trains were equally harrowing:
More truly harrowing footage emerging from Yuen Long – this vid shows Triad thugs attacking people on a stationary MTR train. Ask yourself how these people think they can get away with this, & the truth is it's because they know they can act with total impunity. pic.twitter.com/Cl9oILFnbV
— Jack Hazlewood (@JackHHazlewood) July 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/StellaLeeHKnews/status/1152973974202015745
Many are speculating that the assailants are connected to the Triad, and might have been hired to carry out these attacks. After a month and a half of protests, it’s telling that last night had the highest injury count, by far.
Where were the police? That’s what people are asking in the aftermath.
Video from internet accusing @hkpoliceforce for turning a blind eye to what was happening inside #YuenLong station and walked away #HongKong #HongKongProtest pic.twitter.com/E1xlMicJzq
— Kinling Lo ็งๅปบ้ (@kinlinglo) July 21, 2019
When police arrived at the station after 11pm, the assailants had left and angry protesters demanded to know why they had taken so long to get there. Hong Kongโs Hospital Authority said 45 people between the ages of 18 and 64, were injured in the attack, including one man who was in critical condition. Four men and one woman were in a serious condition.
On Monday morning, activists roundly criticised the police. A lawmaker from the opposition Democracy party said his party was investigating the potential involvement of organised crime.
โIs Hong Kong now allowing triads to do what they want, beating up people on the street with weapons?โ Democratic party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, who was among the injured, asked reporters.
Pro-#Beijing #DAB lawmaker Leung Che-cheung, who's from #YuenLong, says violent attacks unacceptable, shouldn't have happened. He condemned Democrat @HKDemocrats Lam Cheuk-ting for going there "to instigate matters & caused civilians to get hurt" #HongKong #HKprotests pic.twitter.com/ntgtD77iuF
— Damon Pang (@damon_pang) July 22, 2019
The Hong Kong government issued a statement at 12:35 am Monday:
Following the storming of the CPGLO building, some radical protesters initiated a series of violent acts in Sheung Wan area, despite repeated warnings by the Police.ย These outrageous, violent acts included hurling petrol bombs, setting fires and throwing bricks. Thoroughfares were also blocked.
Meanwhile in Yuen Long, some people congregated at the platforms of the MTR station and train compartments, attacking commuters. It led to confrontations and injuries.
This is absolutely unacceptable to Hong Kong as a society that observes the rule of law. The SAR Government strongly condemns any violence and will seriously take enforcement actions.
People are outraged. It’ll be interesting to see the turnout for the nextย protest; we wouldn’t be surprised if it was the biggest one yet.
This is the fundamental point that BJ and HK Govt just donโt seem to grasp: HKers are WAY more outraged & upset about the Yuen Long triad gang attacks than they are about the property damage protesters inflicted on the Central Govt Liaison Office. https://t.co/dx9JMUYPpD
— Antony Dapiran (@antd) July 22, 2019
