2019 Prince Edward station attack

The 31 August Prince Edward station incident (Chinese: 831太子站事件),[2][3][4][5] or 31 August MTR station incident,[6] refers to an incident in which Hong Kong police allegedly indiscriminately[7][8][9] attacked passengers while arresting alleged protesters who were returning home via Prince Edward station, on the night of 31 August 2019, after a protest was held that same day. The event was described as the police version of the 2019 Yuen Long attack, and the police have been criticised as acting like terrorists.[10][11] Rumours have been circulated that several protesters were beaten to death at the station, but the police have rejected allegations.[12] However, a mourning vigil was set up by a group of residents outside one exit of the station.[13]

2019 Prince Edward station attack
Part of 2019–20 Hong Kong protests
Hong Kong police storm Prince Edward station and attack civilians on 31 August 2019.
Date31 August 2019 (Hong Kong Time UTC+8)
Location
Resulted in(See Aftermath section)
Parties to the civil conflict
HK anti-bill demonstrators and passengers
Anti-demonstrators
Number
Casualties
InjuriesAt least 10 (people sent to hospital)
Arrested65 (as of 1 November, all protestors or passengers)[1]
Charged2 (as of 1 November)
Location within Hong Kong

Timeline

Citizens cried after being attacked by the police.
Passengers appear scared as police enter the train.
Train interior after the police attack
Riot police force the passenger and first aid surrender

According to several news reports, some of the protesters conducted flash mobbing by using the MTR lines. They are accused of damaging MTR properties in Mong Kok MTR station, a station on the Kwun Tong and Tsuen Wan lines.[14] They clashed with anti-demonstrators in one of the cabin of the Kwun Tong line (towards Tiu Keng Leng direction) passenger car as well as on the platform of Prince Edward station, where the passenger car was stationed.[14][15] The anti-demonstrators were armed, with weapons including hammers[14][16] and box cutters.[14]

The police later arrived at Prince Edward station and conducted arrests in the platform and on stationed Kwun Tong line (towards Tiu Keng Leng direction) and Tsuen Wan line (towards Central direction) passenger cars.[17]

A witness who was a passenger of the train on the Tsuen Wan line claimed that not all of the passengers in his cabin were protesters.[14] Other witnesses also accused the police were attacking those passengers without a reasonable cause.[14]

The train was then steered to Yau Ma Tei station, before the injured passengers were removed from the carriage by medics, and bloodied bandages, tissue and umbrellas could be found on the scene. The station was soon closed afterwards by the police. Journalists and paramedics were not allowed to get into the station. A notable paramedic showed a banner writing "Hindering aid operations is violating International humanitarian law", gaining some media coverage.[18]

After the raid, seven people were sent to the hospital by transporting them to Lai Chi Kok station via Tsuen Wan line, and then via ambulances. An additional three people from the initial Kwun Tong line conflict had been sent to the hospital via Yau Ma Tei station, before the arrival of the officers of the Hong Kong Fire Services Department. The department also admitted that the police who arrived before them had temporarily blocked the access of the platforms, and the delay of the rescue is not optimal.[19] It was reported that it took the injured over 2.5 hours before reaching to the hospital.[20]

A total of 65 people were arrested as of 1 November for involvement in the incident.[1] The police accused the suspects had committed "unauthorized assembly," "criminal damage," and "obstruction of a police officer in the execution of his duty".[21] However, it was reported that the anti-demonstrator who was armed with a hammer was not among those arrested, despite witness' claims that the anti-demonstrator had injured several people.[14]

According to the police, two arrested suspects, aged 33 and 13, were formally charged for "possession of offensive or lethal weapons".[1] Their cases were mentioned in the court for the first time on 2 September.[1] The second mention of their cases were queued in November.[22][23] 62 people were under bail as of 1 November.[1] Another teen, aged 15, was released in October without charges. The court had refused the application of his protective order by the police.[24]

Aftermath

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department's preliminary initial records had changed from 10 to 7 injured.[19]

On 6 September 2019, several sit-in protests were reported in September wherein protesters demanded MTR to release the footage of the closed-circuit television[25] and were "calling on police to apologise for excessive violence".[26] One of the exits of the MTR station became an unofficial memorial wall with flowers and messages. Despite attempts to destroy the memorial by other residents,[27] flowers and messages were re-built by the protesters.[13]

On 31 October, another protest was held near the station to mark the two month commemoration of the incident.[28] However, the protest, which did not have a permit from the police, resulted in a clash between protesters and the police, with at least three people injured and least one protester arrested.[29] It was also reported that the protesters had vandalised traffic lights and the exits of Mong Kok MTR station, as well as starting a fire on nearby Nathan Road.[28]

One of the teens who was injured by the police filed a civil lawsuit against the Hong Kong Police Force, alleging that the attacks against him constituted assault and he was therefore entitled to damages.[30]

Reactions

Critics also made sarcastic comments about the police, claiming they were blatantly lying.[31] During the press meeting, the police claimed they were able to distinguish innocent citizens from their arrest targets. They claimed there were "undercover violent protesters" that had changed clothes to blend in, and denied attacking people indiscriminately.[21]

Amnesty International Hong Kong called for an investigation into the police conduct after the Special Tactical Squad stormed Prince Edward station and beat and pepper-sprayed the commuters inside.[32]

The Hong Kong Bar Association accused the police of abusing its power, claiming "Video footage from the Prince Edward MTR station last Saturday night show riot police launching indiscriminate attacks, without any apparent lawful excuse, and using pepper spray on passengers inside a train compartment or hitting them with batons, especially since the officers in question left the train carriage afterwards without making any arrests".[33]

Both the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI; a successor of HKU Public Opinion Programme) and CUHK Centre for Communication and Public Opinion Survey made opinion polls for the protest and incidents. In the CUHK's fifth survey for the whole protest, 52% of interviewees believe the rumour that the police had killed citizens during the 31 August raid in the MTR station.[34] In PORI's survey, conducted in October, 48% of interviewees believe the rumour.[34][35] Critics urged the government to establish an Independent Commission of Inquiry, by invoking the Commissions of Inquiry Ordinance, to respond to the situation.[34]

See also

References

  1. 8‧31被捕65人 暫無人控非法集結. Ming Pao (in Chinese). Hong Kong: Media Chinese International. 1 November 2019. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  2. "消防聽逾千錄音 修正「太子831」紀錄". Metro Daily (in Chinese). Hong Kong. 20 September 2019. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  3. 高院下令港鐵保留831太子站片段. Cable News (in Chinese). HK Cable TV. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  4. 楊岳橋指831太子站事件有多個疑點. news.rthk.hk (in Chinese). RTHK. 17 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  5. 831太子站 消防處重申警方並無指示傷者數目. news.now.com (in Chinese). Now TV. 19 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  6. "Fire dept. says recording of Aug 31 MTR incident was within normal practice, condemns logbook leak". hongkongfp.com. Hong Kong Free Press. 18 September 2019. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  7. "【民報】香港831汽油彈、水炮車徹夜激戰 警無差別打人稱「適當武力」". peoplenews.tw (in Chinese). 1 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  8. "【香港831遊行】港警胡椒噴霧、持警棍無差別攻擊 太子站乘客頭破血流". 鏡週刊 Mirror Media (in Chinese). 1 September 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  9. "【831 ‧ 不斷更新】港九多個港鐵站關閉 警衝入太子站無差別打人 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞". Stand News (in Chinese). Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  10. "【逆權運動】721=831 速龍太子站闖月台車廂亂棍毆乘客 無辜市民被襲後相擁痛哭". Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  11. "【專訪】目睹 8.31 太子站市民被毆 中年廚師:警察比 7.21 白衣人更恐怖 | 立場報道 | 立場新聞". Stand News (in Chinese). Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 15 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  12. "Police reject Prince Edward station death rumor as malicious". The Standard. 10 September 2019. Archived from the original on 9 November 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  13. 【逃犯條例】市民太子站外獻花 不滿港鐵只公開閉路電視截圖 (20:02). online "instant" news. Ming Pao (in Chinese). Hong Kong: Media Chinese International. 10 September 2019. Archived from the original on 12 September 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  14. 速龍亂棍 街坊遭殃 傷者:打完唔拉人. Apple Daily. Hong Kong. 2 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  15. 血濺太子站 藍衫漢揮錘大戰示威者. Oriental Daily (in Chinese). Hong Kong: Oriental Press Group. 1 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  16. 修例風波:衝突延九龍 速龍太子站拉人 港鐵突停5線服務. hk.on.cc (in Chinese). Hong Kong: Oriental Press Group. 31 August 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  17. 楊婉婷; 李穎霖; 蔡正邦; 陳蕾蕾 (1 September 2019). 【8.31遊行】還原太子車廂暴力因由 示威者與大叔衝突 速龍揮棍. HK01 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  18. 救護員哭求港警開地鐵閘門:打我、射我都可以,請讓我去救人. 鏡週刊 [Mirror Media] (in Chinese). 1 September 2019. Archived from the original on 3 September 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019 via ETtoday.
  19. "831疑團 消防處保證無見到死亡個案". am730 (in Chinese). Hong Kong. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  20. 【反修例】831示威太子站傷者要等港鐵「特別列車」 救護員花2.5小時才能將傷者送院. Topick (in Chinese). Hong Kong Economic Times Holdings. Archived from the original on 30 October 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  21. 【8.31遊行】太子站爆衝突40人被捕 警:激進示威者換衫喬裝市民. HK01 (in Chinese). 1 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  22. 【逃犯條例・831】文員太子站涉攜彈弓螺絲帽 控藏攻擊性武器 (23:28). online "instant" news. Ming Pao (in Chinese). Hong Kong. 2 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  23. "【831衝突】太子站13及15歲被捕少年提堂 家屬反對記者旁聽". stheadline.com (in Chinese). Sing Tao News Corp. 2 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  24. 官拒頒保護令 8‧31被捕少年當庭釋放. Ming Pao (in Chinese). Hong Kong: Media Chinese International. 19 October 2019. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  25. 港鐵因應有人群聚集關閉太子站. news.now.com (in Chinese). Hong Kong: Now TV. 6 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2019.
  26. "Heavy police presence in Hong Kong after threats of new airport protests". CNN. 7 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  27. 十多人毀壞太子站外鮮花 兩名記者遇襲. news.now.com (in Chinese). Hong Kong: Now TV. 10 September 2019. Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  28. Choi, Martin; Magramo, Kathleen; Leung, Kanis (31 October 2019). "Halloween protests in Hong Kong: police fire tear gas in Mong Kok, Central and Sheung Wan as people denounce alleged force brutality and march against mask ban". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019. Protesters gather across the city to mark two months since police operation in Prince Edward MTR station and to march from Victoria Park
  29. 「毋忘8‧31」爆警民衝突 政務司長辦職員被捕. Ming Pao (in Chinese). Hong Kong: Media Chinese International. 1 November 2019. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
  30. 831受傷少年入稟控警務處長索償. Cable News (in Chinese). HK Cable TV. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  31. 邁克 (3 September 2019). 喬裝市民. "克社會" column. Apple Daily (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 27 October 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  32. "Hong Kong: Rampaging police must be investigated". Amnesty International. 1 September 2019. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019. In response to the latest clashes between police and protesters in Hong Kong on Saturday night – including one incident where police stormed the platform of Prince Edward metro station and beat people on a train – Man-Kei Tam, Director of Amnesty International Hong Kong, said: "Violence directed at police on Saturday is no excuse for officers to go on the rampage elsewhere. The horrifying scenes at Prince Edward metro station, which saw terrified bystanders caught up in the melee, fell far short of international policing standards.
  33. Leung, Kanis; Leung, Christy; Siu, Phila (4 September 2019). "Hong Kong police pepper spray angry crowd as lawyers condemn 'abuse of power'". South China Morning Post. Hong Kong. Archived from the original on 4 September 2019. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  34. 梁啟智 [Leung, Kai-chi] (31 October 2019). 831有冇死人之平行時空 (Opinion) (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019 via medium.com.
  35. 【抗暴之戰】前無古人!林鄭20.2分民望創新低 近半人信「831有死人」. Online "realtime" news. Apple Daily (in Chinese). Hong Kong. 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.