Blood Flows As Police Tackle Protesters In Central

Riot police took swift action against protesters in Exchange Square and elsewhere in Central on Wednesday lunchtime, subduing a number of people.

A young man was seen bleeding from the head and wasn't moving as officers flipped him over near the IFC building and tied his hands.

He was conscious and sitting up a short time later and his head wound was being treated.

An angry crowd, many of them appearing to be office workers, argued with the riot police at the scene, mocking officers and chanting for them to release the man.

Meanwhile a larger crowd was gathering for the third day in a row at the junction of Des Voeux Road Central and Pedder Street. Bricks and bamboo poles had been strewn across the road which was blocked to traffic once again.

At one point, people lined up along Pedder Street to pass umbrellas to those on the frontline, to help them defend themselves against the police.

But riot officers were soon charging at the crowd, wrestling around 10 people to the ground as others fled.

After the clearance action, the police raised a blue flag, warning people they were taking part in an unlawful assembly. But when officers left, the protest continued.

By around 4.30pm, the demonstrators had also blocked Queen's Road Central and Connaught Road Central.

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