Hong Kong violence spirals as man shot at, another set on fire

Hong Kong, November 11

A Hong Kong anti-government protester was shot at by the police on Monday as demonstrators blocked train lines and roads in a day of spiraling violence fueled by demands for democratic reforms.

Elsewhere, a man was set on fire following an apparent dispute over national identity in the semi-autonomous Chinese territory, which has been wracked by five months of protests. The 

man was in critical condition in a city hospital.

The violence is likely to further inflame passions in Hong Kong after a student who fell during an earlier protest succumbed to his injuries Friday and police arrested six pro-democracy lawmakers over the weekend.

Monday's video shows a police officer shooing away a group of protesters at an intersection, then drawing his gun on a masked protester in a white hooded sweatshirt who approaches him.

As the two struggle, another protester in black approaches, and the officer points his gun at the second one. He then fires at the stomach area of the second protester, who falls to the ground. The officer appeared to fire again as a third protester in black joined the tussle.

The protester in white manages to flee and the officer and a colleague pin the two in black to the ground. — AP

Police investigate videos of man set ablaze during argument

The police said they were investigating reports that a man was set alight following a heated argument as videos of the purported attack surfaced online. Three videos were posted on messaging channels used by protesters showing a man in a green t-shirt arguing with people on a footbridge, reportedly in Ma On Shan. A masked man dressed in black then throws a liquid over the man and sets him ablaze as crowds scatter and the victim frantically tries to remove his t-shirt. A spokeswoman for the Hospital Authority said a man with burns had been admitted to Prince Wales Hospital, the closest facility to Ma On Shan. AFP