Forget the iconic umbrella.

According to The Washington Post, the new weapon of the Hong Kong protestors are high-powered lasers, used to distract police officers and conceal their identities at the same time.

Both sides armed with lasers

Protesters on the frontline have traditionally covered their faces in order to prevent identification by the authorities.

Now, they have begun shining high-powered lasers at surveillance cameras in order to further mask their identities.

The lasers are also pointed at the police officers' shields and faces to distract them, making the chaotic streets something akin to a light show.

Hong Kong protestors are on another level. Here they’re using lasers to avoid facial recognition cameras. A cyber war against Chinese artificial intelligence. pic.twitter.com/t1hIczr5Go

— Alessandra (@alessabocchi) July 31, 2019

Facing this new weapon, the Hong Kong Police has struck back in kind.

While officers have been using traditional anti-riot tools such as tear gas and rubber bullets, they have also begun using lasers as well.

Lights and lasers help to identify protestors, especially after tear gas has been used, which reduces visibility.

Police officers were also spotted pointing high-powered beams at television crews and photographers, impeding their ability to cover the protests accurately.

Police are shining flashing lights at journalists making it impossible to film them firing tear gas. More rounds fired.

— Laurel Chor (@laurelchor) July 28, 2019

No end in sight

Despite weeks of sustained protests, there seems no end in sight for the increasing violent demonstrations.

According to Hong Kong Free Press, a general strike has been called on Aug. 5, with seven simultaneous rallies planned in different districts.

Top image from Alessandra Boochi/Twitter.