Hong Kong Police Surround Varsity's Campus, Violence Erupts

Violence between Hong Kong police and protesters escalated on Monday, as police laid siege to a Polytechnic University campus that had been occupied by protesters over the weekend.

Police prevented scores of people, including faculty, from leaving the campus by firing tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons filled with blue dye which stains clothes and irritates the skin. Several protesters were detained by the police.

Protestors then barricaded themselves in the university and fought back with petrol bombs and other improvised weapons.

Thousands of residents and protesters flocked overnight around the university.

Video: This #HongKongProtest clip circulated online shows an *extraordinary* ‘human chain’ along Nathan Road in Kowloon, passing on emergency supplies that they hope would somehow reach the hundreds of students trapped inside #PolyU, or at least protesters nearby #HongKong #香港 pic.twitter.com/4OTj3YexC6

— Carmen Ng 吳嘉文 (@Carmen_NgKaMan) November 18, 2019

The US has condemned the "unjustified use of force" in Hong Kong and called on Beijing to protect Hong Kong's freedom.

Hong Kong protests began in early June against an extradition bill which would have allowed Hong Kong citizens to be extradited to mainland China for trial.

The bill was ultimately withdrawn but the protests have turned into a pro-democracy movement.

Watch the full report here:

Violence escalates as #HongKongPolice surrounds & attempts to storm a #PolytechnicUniversity campus, using water cannon & tear gas. Protestors responded with bow & arrow, petrol bombs & other improvised weapons @arushipundir1 #HongKongProtesters pic.twitter.com/QTrLCtDX4V

— GoNewsIndia (@GoNews_India) November 18, 2019