Thugs disrupt Hong Kong protest
Protesters raises a placard with a deface picture of Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying outside a flag-raising ceremony where Hong Kong’s embattled leader attended in Hong Kong. AP
HONG KONG—Hong Kong arrested 19 people, some believed to have organized crime ties, during a night of running brawls stretching into Saturday as police denied the government had used triad gangs against prodemocracy protesters after accusations hired thugs had been brought in to stir up violent clashes.
At least 12 people and six officers were injured during the clashes, Senior Supt. Patrick Kwok Pak-chung said.
Protest leaders called off planned talks with the government on political reforms after the battles kicked off Friday afternoon in gritty, blue-collar Mong Kok, across Victoria Harbor from the activists’ main protest camp.
Police struggled for hours to control the battles as attackers pushed, shoved and jeered the protesters. Reports from AP and AFP
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