Police Fire Tear Gas Directly Into Kwai Fong MTR

In an unprecedented move, police fired tear-gas directly into the Kwai Fong MTR station on Sunday night as they rushed to confront anti-government demonstrators who had gathered there to target the nearby Kwai Chung police station.

Tear gas appeared to saturate the ground floor of the station, as dozens of protesters gathered inside.

Video footage from the scene showed a train stopped at a platform, with many people – both protesters and ordinary passengers – still inside. One person dressed in protest gear was seen lying on the floor with blood running from his nose.

The train later left the station.

Scores of riot police then surrounded multiple entrances to the station, only to pull back a short time later.

After police left, hundreds of people briefly flooded back into the station, with many covering their mouths with their hands. But a short time later, the station was left empty again, and staff were pulling the shutters down.

The MTR Corporation had initially said additional trains were sent to Kwai Fong to take passengers away, but suspended services shortly afterwards.

Many protesters are still standing by at Metroplaza mall adjacent to the station. Many shops there have pulled down their shutters. But police did not immediately confront them.

An RTHK reporter at the scene said police first started firing tear gas outside the station, before firing directly into it.

Chaotic scenes ensued, with fire extinguishers and unravelled fire hoses left lying on the ground.

Before the chaos, many protesters had gathered outside the Kwai Chung Police Station – with many having gone there after surrounding the police station in Tsim Sha Tsui.