Hong Kong protesters proceeded with a march on Sunday, Oct. 20 despite not having permission from the authorities to do so.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Kowloon to march against the anti-mask law.
Organisers from the Civil Human Rights Front originally halted their protest plans at Kowloon after failing to get the police's approval to do so.
But the demonstrators marched on, nonetheless.
At around 3pm, the protest descended into chaos as protesters threw Molotov cocktails, petrol bombs, and vandalised stores, MTR exits and Chinese banks, as well as erected makeshift barriers, Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) reported.
In response, riot police deployed water cannons, projectiles, and tear gas.
Among the affected areas were Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Yau Ma Tei, and Nathan Road — famed shopping districts in Hong Kong.
Kowloon mosque hit by blue dye
CNA reported that the police used water cannons blasting streams of blue-dyed water at Tsim Sha Tsui police station which was attacked by petrol bombs.
The blue-dyed water stains everything it touches, making it a tool used to identify frontline protesters.
It is also suspected that the water was mixed with an irritant, as those who had been hit developed coughs.
As the police passed by the Kowloon mosque, they released jets of dyed water in its direction.
The stairs and gate of the religious building were stained as a result, according to local media Stand News.
#hongkongpolice attack the Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Center in Tsim Sha Tsui with blue water. They claimed that they attacked accidentally. But from this video, it is clearly shown that they were aimed to attack the Center. #HongKongProtest pic.twitter.com/O0SFQXZiV8
— アイビー❄️🌹 (@ywssss2) October 20, 2019
Many commenters online condemned the firing of blue dye at the religious site.
Some found it offensive and called it a "disrespectful" act.
Hong Kong Police sprayed blue-dye water into a mosque
— maskman (@teaislove_tea) October 20, 2019
A disrepectful act to the religion#HongKong #Islam #HongKongProtest #HongKongPolice pic.twitter.com/ufwQR2mszf
Urgent: Kowloon Mosque was assault by Hong Kong Police Force's water cannon vehicle during today's protest in Kowloon, Hong Kong.
— Kaiser Jeff Lee (競馬ファン)(艦これ春イベ甲甲乙甲乙) (@JL_theKaiser) October 20, 2019
A disgusting act from HKPF, and it was a disrespectful move to our Muslim friends in Hong Kong. #hkpolicebrutality #LiberateHongKong @SolomonYue pic.twitter.com/G1v6ohzgn4
Members of the public helped to clean up the mosque immediately, including protesters in the vicinity.
Passerby helping to clean the mosque after the huge blast of blue water from the cannon. Muslim bystanders here shocked and offended that they would do this to their place of worship. HK people comforting them pic.twitter.com/a1rhlJbOZh
— Shibani Mahtani (@ShibaniMahtani) October 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/LeyleyTsai/status/1185904470288261126
The Kowloon Mosque and Islamic Centre was attacked by HK Police water cannon filled with blue chemicals! After the HK Police gone out, the Hong Kong Protests and the South-Asia citizens joint together to clean up the Mosque and Islamic Centre#StandwithHonKong#hkpolicebrutality pic.twitter.com/NbPHnaxFeV
— Lu Yip😷🇭🇰💪🏻 (@Lu_Yip_) October 20, 2019
https://twitter.com/lucian_0608/status/1185862517404266498
The Chief Imam of Hong Kong, Mufti Muhammad Arshad, told the South China Morning Post that the interior of the mosque was not hit by the blue dye and believed that the mosque was not targeted by the police.
The police also released a statement in the evening to clarify that the spraying of blue-dye was "unintended".
It added that the police also reached out to the Muslim community leaders to show concern and clarify the situation.
It is most unfortunate that the dispersal operation has caused unintended impact on the Kowloon Mosque. Following the incident, the Police have immediately contacted the Chief Imam as well as Muslim community leaders to clarify the situation and to show our concern.
— Hong Kong Police Force (@hkpoliceforce) October 20, 2019
Top image via @yinshi0907 on Twitter
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