Chief Superintendent of Hong Kong police's public relations branch Tse Chun-chung speaks during a press conference, November 15, 2019. /CGTN Screenshot
Hong Kong police held a regular press conference on Friday, in which it said that rioters' violent acts turned the universities into a crime base.
In the video footage displayed at the police press briefing, violent protesters threw petrol bombs to university facilities inside the Hong Kong Polytechnic University campus and used bricks to set barricades on the road outside the campus.
"We have seen more and more self-made petrol bombs and offensive weapons," said Chief Superintendent Tse Chun-chung.
Violence outside the universities is also undergoing.
Tolo highway, a key transport route in the city, has been blocked for over 60 hours. The road was filled with trash and metal fragments threw by rioters, and it's seriously obstructing emergency services and movement of residents in the New Territories, the police said.
On Thursday evening, rioters put more than a dozen petrol bombs at the entrance of Hung Hom tunnel, destroyed the tolls, and burned electric boxes. After firefighters arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire, the rioters once again fired petrol bombs.
Also on Thursday, properties such as bank and shops were burned down by rioters in Mong Kok district, the police said.
Yesterday, Hong Kong police arrested 58 people for unlawful assembly, possession of offensive weapons, assaulting police officers, among other charges.
Protesters throw petrol bombs during clashes at the CUHK, Hong Kong, China, November 13, 2019. /Reuters Photo
"Please take a look at what Hong Kong has become today, we are now constantly living in fear of being the next victim of widespread rioting," police said.
"We should not let rioters take Hong Kong hostage. Please join us in putting an end to the violence before it's too late," the police added at the press conference.
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HK police: Violence in universities takes 'another step towards terrorism'