Hong Kong in political crisis as 'million-strong' protest turns violent

A huge peaceful protest in Hong Kong against controversial plans to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland descended into violence as police clashed with small pockets of demonstrators outside the city's parliament.

Police officers use pepper spray against protesters in a rally against the proposed amendments to the extradition law at the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Source: AAP

Riot police surrounded Hong Kong’s parliament early on Monday after what had been a peaceful million-strong protest against an extradition bill descended into running clashes between police and protesters.

Several hundred riot police armed with batons, shields, tear gas guns and pepper spray sealed off the Legislative Council as a similar number of protesters charged their lines shortly after midnight, witnesses said.

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