Fires have broken out at Hong Kong Polytechnic University after police attempted to storm the campus a few moments ago:
Poly U entrance in flames as riot police try to storm in #HK #HongKongProtests #StandwithHongKong pic.twitter.com/egcKyS4X5j
— James Pomfret (@jamespomfret) November 17, 2019
And:
#HongKong: the entrance to the #PolyUniversity is burning after another police charge.
Police were forced to retreat against meaning protesters are likely to hold out until the morning. pic.twitter.com/IbJZtt155L
— Thomas van Linge (@ThomasVLinge) November 17, 2019
From the WSJ and what was going down overnight:
HONG KONG—Police warned they would open fire on protesters using Molotov cocktails to attack officers, as water-cannon streams, tear gas and nonlethal projectiles failed to budge defiant demonstrators, who have occupied a university for a week, during a 16-hour siege.
Groups of black-clad protesters hunkered under umbrellas late Sunday, with some hurling Molotov cocktails and bricks at police in response to their salvos. Earlier, a police officer was shot in the leg with an arrow and an armored police car was set ablaze as it tried to cross a bridge to the campus.
The standoff comes after one of the most violent weeks in more than five months of antigovernment protests. Escalating violence of late has raised concerns over whether the city’s district council elections, scheduled for Nov. 24, can go forward. The Hong Kong government and police are also under increasing pressure from Beijing to crack down more forcefully and find a solution to the protests, which have grown more violent since a peaceful march in June drew as many as two million people.
More videos from around the campus:
5:30am, Hk police moving into Polytechnic University. ????#SOSPolyU #HKprotests pic.twitter.com/Bv8svdA6OA
— Denise Ho (HOCC) (@hoccgoomusic) November 17, 2019
#BREAKING #PolyUniversity – At around 5:30am, @hkpoliceforce raid into the campus. Massive fire at the main entrance making it almost unrecognizable. Protesters trying to find other ways to evacuate. #HongKongProtests #HongKong #HongKongPolice pic.twitter.com/YCq6DV8Lbj
— Phoebe Kong 江穎怡 (@phoebe_kongwy) November 17, 2019
According to one report, the fires were started by protesters throwing Molotov cocktails at the police:
#NOW: Raptors charged the campus as the morning approached. Petrol bombs from protesters caused a high fire at #PolyU entrance #HongKongProtests #antielab pic.twitter.com/DuVmKjpnMi
— Cherie Chan 陳卓妍 (@cheriechancy) November 17, 2019
Tianamen Square part II?
Shocking scenes in a university campus – Poly U in Hong Kong. Reminds me of terrible moments in Beijing, 1989 https://t.co/s5RE49Crje
— Philippe Le Corre (@PhLeCorre) November 17, 2019
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