Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Hong Kong Police say Homemade Bomb Targeted Officers

Associated Press

   HONG KONG - A homemade, remote-controlled bomb intended to "kill or to
   harm" riot control officers was detonated as they deployed against
   renewed violence in Hong Kong over the weekend, police said Monday, in
   a further escalation of destructive street battles gripping the
   business hub.
   The "loud thud" Sunday night close to riot officers who had been
   clearing away a protester-built road block marked the first known use
   of an explosive device during protests that started in June over a
   contested extradition bill and have snowballed into an anti-government,
   anti-police and anti-China movement.
   "It exploded less than 2 meters [yards] away from a police vehicle. We
   have reason to believe that the bomb was meant to target police
   officers," Deputy Commissioner Tang Ping-keung said at a news
   conference.
   But despite spiraling violence, widespread vandalism and gasoline-bomb
   attacks by black-clad hardcore protesters, and repeated government
   appeals for people not to take their side, the protest movement is
   still rousing determined support from more moderate demonstrators,
   broadly worried about the future of the semi-autonomous Chinese
   territory and its freedoms, unique in China.
   A peaceful rally in central Hong Kong's swanky business district on
   Monday night drew a giant crowd tens of thousands strong, a chanting,
   singing throng so massive that demonstrators filled side streets and
   broad boulevards. Holding aloft lit cellphones, the crowd looked like a
   galaxy of stars. Organizers said they drew 130,000 participants.
   Many waved U.S. flags. The rally appealed for the U.S. Congress to
   press on with legislation that would require the secretary of state to
   annually review Hong Kong's special economic and trade status,
   providing a check on Beijing's influence over the territory.
   A banner where speakers whipped up the crowd appealed for President
   Donald Trump to "liberate Hong Kong." Another read, "Make Hong Kong
   great again."

.