November 04, 2019, 06:37 PM
A pro-democracy politician from Hong Kong had his left ear bitten off by a knife-wielding attacker who injured four other men before him.
The incident took place on Sunday, Nov. 3, at the Cityplaza mall in Hong Kong Island's Tai Koo district.
District councillor Andrew Chiu Ka-yin, who represents Tai Koo Shing West on the Eastern District Council, was attempting to prevent the male suspect from leaving the scene when the latter lashed out and bit off a part of his ear, RTHK reported.
(Warning: Graphic content. Viewer discretion advised.)
WARNING NSFW (Violence, Ear on ground)
— woppa 🎗😷 (@Woppa1Woppa) November 3, 2019
Latest new footage from Taikoo - Here is the ear biting attack. He escapes from the security guard, runs in a circle, and bites his victim's ear off#StandWithHongKong #HongKongProtests pic.twitter.com/4XpMuu9iyJ
After his ear was bitten off, Chiu reportedly shouted: "Where has my ear gone?"
He was later seen picking up his severed ear and putting it into a clear plastic bag.
A hatchet man who speak mandarin “randomly” slashed 6 ppl in Tai Koo Shing.
— Nikki 🌸 🍊🇺🇸 (@nikki_miumiu) November 3, 2019
Convenor of the Power for Democracy Andrew Chiu’s ear was bitten off by the suspect when he tried to stop the violence.pic.twitter.com/4JUfYc14Vx
Six people, including Chiu, were injured in the attack.
CONTENT WARNING
— Xinqi Su 蘇昕琪 (@XinqiSu) November 3, 2019
Back to where the bloody attack took place tonight in CityPlaza. District councilor Andrew Chiu got part of his ear bit off and four other people were wounded, including the knife wielding attacker. Pools and stains of blood are still fresh on the ground. pic.twitter.com/ms3meV6cx7
Man arguing with others over politics before he attacked
One of the victims, a woman, told the South China Morning Post (SCMP) that the attacker was arguing with her sister and her husband over political differences before he took a knife out from his bag and attacked them.
It was reported that the suspect was speaking in Mandarin Chinese, a detail that was not left out by local media in a city that has harboured anti-mainland Chinese sentiments.
Mandarin speaking office worker on lunch break harassed by so called Hong Kong press, who refused to show him press ID. He declared “We’re All Chinese” bf returning 2 office. Masked White man blocked his way. Hong Kong protester attacked him from behind pic.twitter.com/LSPvKdYOtt
— Carl Zha (@CarlZha) October 4, 2019
The attacker, who still remains unidentified, was subsequently subdued by passers-by, but not before enduring rounds of beatings from vigilantes who decided to take matters into their own hands.
A person who tried to shield the suspect was also injured in the process.
Ear reattached in successful surgery
Chiu's ear was later reattached after a surgery conducted around midnight, SCMP reported his assistant Eric Lee as saying.
Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting says his party-mate Andrew Chiu has had the severed part of his ear replanted. Part of Chiu’s ear was bitten off last night. #hongkongprotests #antiELAB https://t.co/4SqDRJJOFG pic.twitter.com/C2rmt4IJXw
— Joanne Wong (@JOceanW) November 4, 2019
His condition was said to be stable.
Pro-Beijing businesses vandalised
The incident happened after hundreds of protesters took to the streets in the latest round of weekend protests despite none of the public gatherings being authorised by the police.
How riot police in Tuen Mun got rough on an old man on wheelchair because he loudly scolded them for scaring people and demanded them to remove their masks. Police said their right to wear mask was protected by laws. pic.twitter.com/Jd6EkMIhs3
— Xinqi Su 蘇昕琪 (@XinqiSu) November 3, 2019
Riot police had stormed several malls on Sunday, Nov. 3, in an attempt to put a stop to the protests, France 24 reported.
For the second time on Sunday, riot police have stormed into a private mall, as dozens entered Tai Po Mega Mall shortly before 6pm upon reports of vandalism of the local pro-Beijing owned Yoshinoya franchise.
— Hong Kong Free Press HKFP (@hkfp) November 3, 2019
Photo: RTHK screenshot. #hongkong #hongkongprotests pic.twitter.com/RfkM65CkkY
Protesters had also vandalised shops which were seen to be pro-Beijing or pro-police, such as a Yoshinoya outlet in New Territories.
Chinese state media Xinhua's Hong Kong outlet was also vandalised on Saturday, Nov. 2.
Xinhua News Agency on Queen’s Road East was vandalised this afternoon. Protesters broke the window facade, threw one petrol bomb and some paint balls. The lady in red said they are still waiting for police to come and investigate. pic.twitter.com/spLcv8K1PG
— Xinqi Su 蘇昕琪 (@XinqiSu) November 2, 2019
Background
Protests sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill have rocked Hong Kong for the past 22 weeks.
While mass protests start out largely peaceful, it is increasingly common to see them descend into chaotic scenes of violent confrontations between "frontline protesters" and riot police.
Protesters have sworn to keep at it until all five demands have been achieved, saying the announcement of the extradition bill's withdrawal came too late as alleged cases of police brutality had already occurred and still remain unaccounted for.
Demands that have yet to be fulfilled by the Hong Kong government include police accountability and amnesty for arrested protesters.
The six helmets form the line 查警暴止警謊 investigate police brutality stop police lies. SSP Ko Chun-pong accused the reporters of hindering other media and violating public right to useful info from police. He threatened to cancel the presser If the reporters refused to leave. pic.twitter.com/qrzzaZwbim
— Xinqi Su 蘇昕琪 (@XinqiSu) November 4, 2019
Pro-government Hongkongers and the authorities alike have criticised the protesters and their demands, with some even using derogatory terms such as "cockroaches" to refer to them.
Top image adapted via @hongkonger001
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