Protesters storm and vandalise Legislative Council as anarchy and violence engulf Hong Kong government centre
- Ugly scenes erupt as mob uses makeshift weapons to smash into building and ransacks the centre of administrative power
- Young protesters barricade key roads, throw bricks and eggs, and attack police with suspected caustic soda
Violence erupted on Hong Kong’s streets on Monday, the day the city marked the anniversary of its return to Chinese rule, as anti-government protesters stormed the legislature after forcing its evacuation for the first time.
The mainly young and masked protesters also barricaded key roads in Admiralty and Wan Chai and attacked police with what was suspected to be drain cleaner and caustic soda, and also launched eggs and bottles at them in other clashes.
The ugliest scenes were at Legco in Admiralty, where violence continued for half the day.
Before 9pm, protesters broke through the entrance and ransacked the legislature. Some were equipped with wooden sticks while others transported supplies such as helmets.
They earlier dismantled a metal fence at the building, breaking into the car park area of the compound, as others tried to smash the glass doors of the main public entrance using metal bars they got from dismantling barricades set up outside the complex.