Hong Kong violence is 'life-threatening', say police, citing crude bomb
A police officer also had his neck slashed by a protester
Hong Kong police said on Monday that violence in the Asian financial hub had escalated to a "life-threatening level", citing the explosion of a small bomb and the stabbing of a police officer in clashes with protesters overnight.
Peaceful rallies descended into chaos on Sunday with running skirmishes between protesters and police in shopping malls and on the streets.
Black-clad activists threw 20 petrol bombs at one police station, while others trashed shops and metro stations.
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A crude explosive device, which police said was similar to those used in "terrorist attacks", was remotely detonated as a police car drove past and officers were clearing roadblocks in Kowloon district on Sunday night.
A police officer also had his neck slashed by a protester.
"Violence against police has reached a life-threatening level," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Tang Ping-keung.
"They are not protesters, they are rioters and criminals. Whatever cause they are fighting for it never justifies such violence."
Hong Kong has been rocked by four months of often huge and violent protests against what is seen as Beijing's tightening grip on the Chinese-ruled city.
The unrest has plunged the city into its worst crisis since Britain handed it back to China in 1997 and poses the biggest popular challenge to Chinese President Xi Jinping since he came to power in 2012.
Xi has warned any attempt to divide China will be crushed.
"Anyone attempting to split China in any part of the country will end in crushed bodies and shattered bones," Xi said in a meeting on Sunday with leaders in Nepal, where he was visiting, according to China's state broadcaster CCTV.
China rejects complaints it is stifling the city's freedoms and stresses its commitment to the "one country, two systems" formula for autonomy set up when the city returned to its rule.
China also accuses Western countries of stirring up trouble in Hong Kong.
The protests were sparked by a now-abandoned bill which would have allowed extradition to China and Communist Party-controlled courts, but have widened into a pro-democracy movement and an outlet for anger at social inequality, in a city with some of the world's most expensive real estate.
'No option'
Protests have attracted millions of people but have gradually become smaller in recent weeks.
Yet violence by hardcore activists has risen, prompting debate among protesters over tactics. But they say they remained united.
"Violence is always undesirable, but in the case of Hong Kong, we have no other option," said regular protester Jackson Chan, 21.
"In June, two million took to the street and demonstrated peacefully, yet the government showed a complete disregard to the public opinion. Resultantly, escalation of violence is inevitable," Chan said.
"The support for the movement in Hong Kong is clear, and the government should shoulder their political responsibility by responding to most of the demands, if not all."
Protesters have main demands, which include universal suffrage and an independent inquiry into police actions.
Pro-democracy activists plan a rally on Monday evening, the first with government permission since the introduction of colonial-era emergency powers, which sparked some of the worst violence since the unrest started.
Protesters said they planned to gather at Chater Garden in the Admiralty district near government headquarters at 7 p.m. (1100 GMT).
The protests have taken on an element of civil disobedience by residents angry at what they see as excessive force by police and a heavy-handed government.
Police have fired thousands of rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets at brick and petrol bomb-throwing protesters and arrested more than 2,300 people since June, many young teenagers.
Two people have been shot and wounded.
Embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam is due to deliver her annual Policy Address on Wednesday amid pressure to restore confidence in the government.
Hong Kong is facing its first recession in a decade because of the protests, with tourism and retail hardest hit.
