Posted on 02/09/16
| News Source: VIN
Hong Kong - The unrest started when authorities tried to prevent unlicensed food vendors from operating street stalls on Monday night in the crowded Kowloon neighborhood during Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebrations.
Overnight and into the early morning hours Tuesday, activists backing the hawkers engaged in running battles with police. Protesters kicked officers and pelted them with bottles. They dug out bricks from the sidewalks to hurl at police. Some threw garbage cans, plastic safety barriers and wood. They set fires on the street.
Police grouped behind riot shields to advance toward the brick-throwing protesters. They helped injured colleagues. They dragged away suspects, making two dozen arrests.
In daylight, the nearly vacant streets were littered with bricks, broken signs and charred debris.
Here are videos and images of the chaos and the aftermath.
epaselect epa05150571 Police officers attend to a colleague laying on the ground during riots in Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China, 09 February 2016. Food vendors selling fish balls and other Lunar New Year holiday delicacies at illegal food stalls clashed with police trying to clear the area in the Mong Kok area of Hong Kong early 09 February. Police had to fire ‘warning shots’ after angry protesters attacked them with "self-made weapons" and threw glass bottles, bricks and rubbish bins at them, injuring some 44 police officers, media reported. The unrest began late at night when police tried to clear the area of hawkers as part of a city-wide clampdown on illegal food stalls. More than 100 angry food hawkers resisted and attacked police and food and hygiene officials as tempers flared. Police resorted to using pepper spray and batons to try and keep the ‘riot’ under control. EPA/ANTHONY KWAN (Credit: EPA)
A cleaning crew sweep debris from a night of clashes between police and protesters in Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China, 09 February 2016. A crackdown on illegal street food hawkers during Chinese Lunar New Year escalated into what some witnesses described as a ‘riot’ in the district of Mongkok. Protesters, so-called localists’ who campaign for varying degrees of independence for Hong Kong, launched sporadic brick and bottle attacks on police, who retaliated with pepper spray. Police fired 2 warning shots. (Credit: EPA)
A pile of bricks sit on a chair in Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China, 09 February 2016. A crackdown on illegal street food hawkers during Chinese Lunar New Year escalated into what some witnesses described as a ‘riot’ in the district of Mongkok. Protesters, so-called localists’ who campaign for varying degrees of independence for Hong Kong, launched sporadic brick and bottle attacks on police, who retaliated with pepper spray. Police fired 2 warning shots. (Credit: EPA)
A cleaning crew sweep debris from a night of clashes between police and protesters in Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China, 09 February 2016. A crackdown on illegal street food hawkers during Chinese Lunar New Year escalated into what some witnesses described as a ‘riot’ in the district of Mongkok. Protesters, so-called localists’ who campaign for varying degrees of independence for Hong Kong, launched sporadic brick and bottle attacks on police, who retaliated with pepper spray. Police fired 2 warning shots. (Credit: EPA)
A man walks past debris from a night of clashes between police and protesters in Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China, 09 February 2016. A crackdown on illegal street food hawkers during Chinese Lunar New Year escalated into what some witnesses described as a ‘riot’ in the district of Mongkok. Protesters, so-called localists’ who campaign for varying degrees of independence for Hong Kong, launched sporadic brick and bottle attacks on police, who retaliated with pepper spray. Police fired 2 warning shots. (Credit: EPA)
Trash cans topped over by protesters sit on a street in Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China, 09 February 2016. A crackdown on illegal street food hawkers during Chinese Lunar New Year escalated into what some witnesses described as a ‘riot’ in the district of Mongkok. Protesters, so-called localists’ who campaign for varying degrees of independence for Hong Kong, launched sporadic brick and bottle attacks on police, who retaliated with pepper spray. Police fired 2 warning shots. (Credit: EPA)
Stones thrown by protesters are seen on the ground in front of riot police during a clash at Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2016. (Credit: Reuters)
An injured TV journalist (C) is helped by his colleague and a riot policeman after being hit by a stone thrown by a protester onto his face during a clash at Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2016. (Credit: Reuters)
A protester sets fire beside a parking taxi at Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2016. (Credit: Reuters)
A protester throws a stone towards riot police at Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2016. (Credit: Reuters)
Protesters throw bricks during a clash with riot police at Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2016. (Credit: Reuters)
Riot police stand behind a damaged taxi after a clash with protesters at Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2016. (Credit: Reuters)
Protesters set fire at a junction at Mongkok shopping district in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2016. Riot police used batons and pepper spray early on Tuesday to quell fights after authorities tried to move illegal street vendors from a working-class Hong Kong district, the worst street clashes since pro-democracy protests in late 2014. (Credit: Reuters)
Protesters break a pavement for bricks to be thrown at riot police at Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2016. (Credit: Reuters)
Protesters throw bricks as a journalist takes cover during a clash with riot police at Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2016. (Credit: Reuters)
Riot police arrests a protester after a clash at Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2016. (Credit: Reuters)
A protester is arrested by riot police at Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2016. (Credit: Reuters)
Protesters look on behind a fire set by them at a junction at Mongkok district in Hong Kong, China February 9, 2016. (Credit: Reuters)
Smoke rises as protestors set fires on a street in Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebration descended into chaotic scenes as protesters and police clashed over a street market selling fish balls and other local holiday delicacies. (Credit: AP)
Riot police officers react as protestors set fires and throw bricks at them in Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebration descended into chaotic scenes as protesters and police clashed over a street market selling fish balls and other local holiday delicacies. (Credit: AP)
Protestors throw bricks at police in Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebration descended into chaotic scenes as protesters and police, who fired warning shots into the air, clashed over a street market selling fish balls and other local holiday delicacies, leaving dozens injured and arrested. (Credit: AP)
Riot police stand guard as protestors set fires and throw bricks in Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebration descended into chaotic scenes as protesters and police clashed over a street market selling fish balls and other local holiday delicacies. (Credit: AP)
Riot police arrest a protestor in Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebration descended into chaotic scenes as protesters and police clashed over a street market selling fish balls and other local holiday delicacies. (Credit: AP)
Riot police move forward to the protesters on a street in Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. A crackdown on street vendors offering holiday treats for Hong Kong�s Lunar New Year celebrations sparked unrest late Monday night. (Credit: AP)
Smoke rises as protestors set fires on a street in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. The unrest started when authorities tried to prevent unlicensed food vendors from operating street stalls on Monday night in the crowded Kowloon neighborhood of Hong Kong. (Credit: AP)
Smoke rises as protestors set fires on a street in the Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. Hong Kong�s Lunar New Year celebration descended into chaotic scenes as protesters and police clashed over a street market selling fish balls and other local holiday delicacies. (Credit: AP)
A protestor throws bricks at police in Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year celebration descended into chaotic scenes as protesters and police clashed over a street market selling fish balls and other local holiday delicacies. (Credit: AP)
Smoke rises as protesters set fires against police in Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. A crackdown on street vendors offering holiday treats for Hong Kong�s Lunar New Year celebrations sparked unrest that descended into rioting late Monday night and early Tuesday. (Credit: AP)
A protester holds bricks in front of fires in Mong Kok district of Hong Kong, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016. The unrest started when authorities tried to prevent unlicensed food vendors from operating street stalls on Monday night in the crowded Kowloon neighborhood of Hong Kong. Overnight and into the early morning hours Tuesday, activists backing the hawkers engaged in running battles with police. (Credit: AP)