New clashes in Hong Kong after pro-democracy politicians arrested
Protesters in Hong Kong have smashed windows in a subway station and a shopping centre following the arrest of pro-democracy politicians.
Hong Kong is in the sixth month of protests that began over a proposed China extradition law and have expanded to include demands for greater democracy and other grievances.
Authorities closed the subway stop in the north-eastern district of Sha Tin after protesters broke windows and damaged a ticket machine.
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In a separate incident, about three dozen protesters stormed through a shopping centre in the north-western district of Tsuen Mun.
Most were peaceful but one protester used a club to smash windows while others overturned tables in a restaurant.
Activists complain the government of Chief Executive Carrie Lam and Beijing are eroding the autonomy and Western-style civil liberties promised to Hong Kong when the former British colony returned to China in 1997.
On Saturday, police announced the arrest of the six politicians on charges of obstructing the local assembly during a raucous May 11 meeting over the extradition bill.
The arrests were made a day after protesters mourned the death of a university student who fell from a car park when police fired tear gas at protesters.
The circumstances of the death are unclear, but many accuse police of using heavy-handed tactics, including widespread use of tear gas and pepper spray.
Police denied pushing the student during the incident on Monday or delaying emergency treatment.
The territory is preparing for elections on November 24 that are viewed as a measure of public sentiment towards the government.
Pro-democracy politicians criticised the government clampdown as an attempt to provoke violence following the student’s death to justify cancelling or postponing the elections.
Violence erupted late Friday when protesters took to the streets following memorial events in multiple locations to mark the student’s death.
More than 3,300 people have been arrested since the start of the protest movement.