2 Young Protesters Shot by Hong Kong Police as ‘Rioters’ Set Man on Fire

Two protesters have been shot by Hong Kong police during a confrontation in a general strike on Monday.

The demonstration, which aimed to disrupt the morning commute, came in response to the death of a student protester who died last Friday and the arrest of pro-democracy lawmakers over the weekend.

The shooting occurred as protesters tried to block a junction at Sai Wan Ho on the north-east of Hong Kong Island, according to the BBC.

In a now-viral video, a police officer is seen shooting both protesters point-blank, shocking witnesses in the area.

Two protesters have been shot by Hong Kong police during a confrontation in a general strike on Monday. — A Hong Kong police officer fires at a protester. Image Screenshot via Cupid Producer

Hong Kong police confirmed shooting the protesters, Bloomberg reported. According to the outlet, both are teenagers.

This is the third time Hong Kong police have shot someone with live rounds. The first incident, which occurred on Oct. 1 — China’s National Day — involved an 18-year-old high school student. The second incident occurred on Oct. 4 and involved a 14-year-old boy.

Later on Monday, a video of a man doused with petrol and lit on fire by “rioters” emerged on social media.

The man, who is reported to be in critical condition, “openly disagreed with radical protesters” at the time of the attack, according to Hu Xijin, editor-in-chief of the Chinese state-run Global Times.

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The first protester who was shot on Monday morning is currently under intensive care. He sustained a wound on the abdomen, according to CBS News.

The second protester, who was fired upon twice, was shot somewhere in the torso. Both arrived conscious at the hospital, CNBC reported.

The morning shootings also sprung a demonstration in the central business district around noon, which saw many office workers as participants. They reportedly yelled at the police, “Die, cockroaches!”

“The gun wasn’t necessary, let alone firing shots,” Marcus Lee, a 26-year-old lawyer, told The New York Times. “You can see how people are reacting to this. They are angry. It’s just very ridiculous.”

The latest incidents forced the University of Hong Kong to cancel all classes on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong Professional Teachers’ Union recommended the suspension of classes at all levels.

Feature Image Screenshots via Cupid Producer (Left) / @HuXijin_GT (Right)

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