Police Tear Gas Protesters In Shenzhen Drill

Shenzhen police conducted a massive riot control exercise on Tuesday morning, with hundreds of officers simulating an operation to disperse black-clad protesters.

In scenes similar to some of the recent real life street battles between protesters and Hong Kong police, the Shenzhen drill saw a crowd of around 2,000 people hurling bricks at some 1,500 officers.

A video shows those playing the part of protesters throwing petrol bombs at the police, pushing a trolley on fire towards a police cordon, and hitting officers with wooden sticks.

A swat team later fires tear gas to disperse the group – described as "troublemakers" and a "mob" – and arrests are also made.

The "protesters" were kitted out with hard hats and face masks and were waving placards.

According to the Weibo account of Shenzhen police, a total of 12,000 officers took part in Tuesday's exercises, which it said were held to safeguard social stability and "national political safety" ahead of celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.