Protesters in Hong Kong Smash Through Glass to Storm Government Building

Protesters in Hong Kong stormed the Legislative Council building on Monday, the anniversary of the city’s 1997 turnover to Chinese rule, amid widespread anger over planned laws that would allow extraditions to China. A small group, mostly students wearing hard hats and masks, used a metal trolley, poles, and pieces of scaffolding to smash through reinforced glass at the government compound near the heart of the financial center. Riot police in helmets and carrying batons fired pepper spray in response.

The government called for an end to the the violence, saying the extradition deal would lapse in July 2020, but the protesters did not stop. CNN reported that one protester stood on a table and called for the crowd to stay in the building overnight. “If we stay here and occupy the place, the lawmakers can have the meeting about the extradition bill,” he said. Central government offices announced they would close Tuesday because of security concerns.