Tributes, Flowers Mark Prince Edward '831' Incident

Riot police on Tuesday arrested dozens of people and conducted a large-scale stop and search operation near Prince Edward MTR station, as a group of people gathered to mark seven months since the force's storming of the station to arrest anti-extradition protesters.

At least two people suffered head injuries after being subdued by police officers.

This was the first protest since the government restricted the size of public gatherings to four people due to the coronavirus outbreak.

On Tuesday afternoon, officers were on stand-by inside a cordon line they set up around a station exit.

They also demanded people leave the area citing the Covid-19 epidemic, and warned people they were joining an illegal assembly after protesters chanted slogans.

Several district councillors were at the site and collected flowers from the crowd.

There were accusations from pan-democratic activists at the scene that the police had abused the new social-distancing order. Officers were said to have asked people who didn't know each other to stand together before they searched them, then told them that they had violated the gathering limit, and would be fined.

Prince Edward MTR station attracts protesters and well-wishers on the last day of every month. They go there to place flowers and burn joss sticks.

The station was closed on August 31 after armed elite police officers stormed a platform and trains, firing tear gas and hitting passengers in their bit to detain suspects.

Officials said seven people were injured during the violence but protesters dispute this.

Last updated: 2020-04-01 HKT 00:44