Hong Kong protests: Student protesters plead for supplies to make petrol bombs amid violence

As violent clashes leave another two fighting for their lives, public responds to appeal for petrol bomb ingredients.

A protester releases a fire arrow with his bow to light a barricade at the Chinese University of Hong Kong as the battles with riot police continue. Picture: Anthony Wallace/AFP

Students occupying a university campus in Hong Kong worked hard to fortify their positions and resist a renewed police assault on Wednesday, building a catapult for petrol bombs, setting up security checkpoints and constructing watchtowers.

During another day of violent clashes across the territory, after which at least two more people were said to be fighting for their lives, students holding the Sha Tin campus of the China University in the New Territories asked the public to provide the ingredients to make petrol bombs.

Local residents responded to an online message board request for supplies, including glass bottles, flour, sugar, alcohol, camp oil, gasoline, cooking oil and lighters, to make “magic fires”.

A procession of private cars stretching about three kilometres carried the items towards them, and many other people walked up carrying medical, food and other supplies.

READ MORE: Hong Kong on ‘the brink of breakdown | West urges both sides in HK to pull back rage | HK police shoot protester, set man on fire |

Inside the campus, in the northeast of Hong Kong’s New Territories, supporters on motorbikes shuttled goods and people around.

A pro-democracy protester walks in front of a makeshift brick wall on a street during a demonstration at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Picture: Anthony Kwan/Getty

A protester makes nail roadblocks inside the campus of the University of Hong Kong, early on Thursday. Picture: Kin Cheung/AP

In an indication of the ferocity of the clashes as police tried to break down the barricades on Tuesday, the students collected 2356 cartridges: the remains of tear gas canisters and rubber bullets fired at them.

Universities close early

The biggest universities took the unprecedented step of ending term early in an effort to defuse the violence. Police accused the universities of becoming bases for criminals and weapons factories. They also said that protesters had shot “burning arrows” at officers, which the students denied, saying they had only test-fired bows taken from the campus sports facilities.

While the students were digging in, protesters caused further disruption across the city, blocking rail lines and main roads and flashmobbing parts of the central business district. Toll booths for the cross harbour tunnel were burnt at dawn and protesters blocked at least ten main roads on Wednesday night.

Violence escalated after shooting

Following the shooting of a young demonstrator by police on Monday, after five months of protests against perceived Beijing meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs, the level of violence has escalated sharply. Many more demonstrators are using petrol bombs against the police, whom they accuse of brutality.

There were reports that a young man died after he fell from a building as skirmishes erupted on Wednesday night.

Police detain a man during a flash mob to block roads in the Central district in Hong Kong. Picture: Dale de la Rey/AFP

A fire is seen at an MTR station during as protests continue. Picture: Anthony Kwan/Getty

A 70-year-old man was critically injured after he was hit on the head by a brick apparently thrown by a demonstrator outside Sheung Shui train station in the north of the territory. Another 56 people were injured in running skirmishes.

A man aged 57 — who was set on fire after he confronted masked and black-clad protesters on Monday, sustaining 40 per cent burns — remains too unwell to provide a statement.

Many banks and shops in bustling commercial areas were shut, and Hong Kong’s Jockey Club cancelled its evening races. A regional business conference for the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines due to be held this month was cancelled.

Beijing has urged the territory’s government to “resolutely take all necessary means” to quell the violence.

“The university is supposed to be a breeding ground for future leaders but it became a battlefield for criminals and rioters,” Tse Chun-chung, chief superintendent of police public relations, said. “What’s worse, we have strong suspicions that the school was used as a weapon factory.”

The Times