After breaking first through exterior glass doors and walls and then a number of metal security shutters, scores of protesters have now entered Hong Kong’s Legislative Council building, with more pouring in by the second and cheering crowds outside shouting encouragement to keep moving in. Vandalism inside has been rampant, with streaming footage showing protesters entering the legislative chamber itself and defacing the SAR regional emblem.
Protesters breaking through metal gates inside LegCo. Smoke visible though source unclear. Screengrabs from local TV live feeds. #NoChinaExtradition #HongKongProtests #反送中 #AntiELAB #HongKong pic.twitter.com/mP81KU0XEp
— Coconuts Hong Kong (@CoconutsHK) July 1, 2019
The full breach of the building followed tense minutes carried live by multiple local broadcasters, in which large numbers of police could be seen massing behind the metal doors in full riot gear. Smoke was visible prior to the final breach, though its source was not immediately apparent.
Crazy scene as scores of protesters moving into LegCo now. This is from the RTHK feed, which you can watch here: https://t.co/Ho5jjz2fEK #NoChinaExtradition #HongKongProtests #反送中 #AntiELAB pic.twitter.com/BTp2zaJTzL
— Coconuts Hong Kong (@CoconutsHK) July 1, 2019
Those police have since seemingly dispersed, however, allowing the protesters to roam freely inside, and leaving observers to wonder when and if they plan to crack down this evening.
https://twitter.com/rthk_enews/status/1145690052460027905
In at least one of the live feeds where this is unfolding, an alarm can be heard ringing insistently in the background. As this story is published, protesters outside the building could be heard telling each other that police vehicles had been spotted on Queen’s Road.
Seriously, every glass panel is smashed. The floor is flooded, graffiti everywhere. pic.twitter.com/NmAcqUyqKr
— Hong Kong Hermit (@HongKongHermit) July 1, 2019
Protesters had laid siege to the LegCo building for hours before the breech, occupying roads, smashing windows, ripping out barriers, throwing eggs, and at points storming the building as crackling, undirected political anger over a controversial extradition bill was taken out on seemingly the only target available: the legislature itself.
Protestors in the LegCo cafe, watching a TV showing them storming LegCo. pic.twitter.com/pFKZXl5Psu
— Hong Kong Hermit (@HongKongHermit) July 1, 2019
The seige of LegCo coincided with a large-scale peaceful march on the anniversary of semi-autonomous Hong Kong’s return to China by its British colonial rulers in 1997. A ceremony marking the handover and attended by the city’s political elite early this morning was also marred by protests, which police sought to forcibly disperse with pepper spray and batons.
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