The Hong Kong police said on Thursday that the violence of rioters in the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) has spread to other universities in Hong Kong like "cancer cells," and has "taken another step towards terrorism".

In the video footage displayed at the police press briefing on Thursday afternoon, rioters in the CUHK could be seen using giant slingshots to hurl burning objects, transporting barbed wires with trolleys, prying up a large number of bricks from the pavement and manufacturing petrol bombs in a way similar to an assembly line.

"The rioters have turned the university campus into a weapon factory," said Chief Superintendent of Police Public Relations Branch Tse Chun-chung, adding that many CUHK staff have expressed concerns about the existence of a large number of petrol bombs as well as irrational rioters on the campus.

Out of the campus, the rioters kept throwing petrol bombs and hard objects from a bridge over Tolo Highway onto the carriageway, obstructing vehicles from passing by on the road.

"The rioters' violence has spread to other universities in Hong Kong. Their acts have taken another step towards terrorism," Tse said.

"Any civil society cannot tolerate this kind of violence."

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Police deny rumors: Man in Tsuen Wan died after falling from height

Police also said a man who was found unconscious in Tsuen Wan on Wednesday died after falling from height, denying rumors that law enforcers killed him.

The police showed detailed footage from surveillance cameras at the scene of the tragedy, and said the man died after falling from a high place. He had not met or been in contact with anyone before his death, the police added.

"There was no suspicious wound on his body after being examined at a local hospital," police said.

The case has been handed over to Kwai Tsing police for further investigation.

Special constables appointed to enhance police manpower

Amid escalating violence, the HKSAR government said on Thursday that the Commissioner of Police has appointed a batch of officers from the Correctional Services Department (CSD) as special constables to enhance manpower of the police. 

The appointment was made in accordance with section 40 of the Public Order Ordinance, said a spokesman for the HKSAR government in a statement.   

"The ongoing riots over the past few months, with their massive scale, simultaneous occurrence in various districts and grave severity of violence, make it necessary to strengthen the support for the police's front-line officers," the spokesman explained.

The newly appointed team, which is a pilot scheme, comprises not more than 100 CSD officers, who are familiar with the use of anti-riot equipment, according to the statement.