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Hong Kong protestors storm parliament building, seize main debating chamber

01 July 2019 18:25 (UTC +04:00)

For a month now, protesters have been demonstrating against the amendments proposed to the extradition bill in Hong Kong that - if approved - will allow the extraditions of people to any jurisdiction, including mainland China, APA reports citing Sputnik.

Demonstrators have stormed into the Legislative Council in Hong Kong and vandalised the entrances after besieging the building for hours on Monday - the 22nd anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China, South China Morning Post reported.

They are said to have smashed glass doors and removed metal bars in a sign of protest against amendments to an extradition bill, which would allow Hong Kong to hand over people to any jurisdiction, including Taiwan, Macau and mainland China.

The protesters have as well sprayed the walls with graffiti, some of which reportedly read "anti-extradition law".

As they were storming the building, LegCo issued a red security alert and ordered evacuation amid concerns of growing violence.

Earlier in the day, the RTHK broadcaster reported that the Hong Kong police used batons and pepper spray to disperse demonstrators.