Protesters Cornered After Gloucester Road Takeover

Scores of protesters took over the eastbound lanes of Gloucester Road in Wan Chai for a time early on Monday morning, paralysing traffic on the key thoroughfare until they were eventually cornered by officers.

Following violent clashes right outside the Legislative Council building shortly past midnight, protesters retreated from phalanxes of riot police to Lung Wo Road, which they occupied for a while before being pushed further back by police.

Protesters then played a game of cat and mouse, constantly retreating as police pushed ahead – some with their hands held high above their heads.

They then rushed onto Gloucester Road and placed metal barriers on the street to block traffic.

At around 2.30am, traffic was stopped in both directions of the road, with the drivers of taxis, buses and trucks caught up in the protest sounding their horns in frustration.

A short while later, officers moved in to push protesters back from their new position outside Immigration Tower.

A number of demonstrators were arrested at the scene.

Others tried to walk away from the area, but were hemmed in against the wall of the Old Wan Chai Police Station by a large number of officers.

Police ordered the demonstrators to sit on the ground, with the group complying.

First aid was carried out on some of those at the scene, with at least two people taken to ambulances by stretcher.

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