Violence broke out on Wednesday night despite Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor's announcement to withdraw the extradition bill.

Police arrested four males aged from 22 to 44 on Wednesday and Thursday on charges including unlawful assembly and false imprisonment, said Tse Chun-chung, chief superintendent of the Police Public Relations Branch.

A van driver left his vehicle and pointed a pistol at police officers at North Point on Wednesday night. Many passersby were in the area and intimidated by such a reckless act, Tse said.

In an attempt to keep things from spiraling out of control, officers drew their revolvers, and managed to make the gunman put down his weapon. The suspect was later arrested for possession of an imitation firearm and other offensive weapons, as a BB-bullet speed loader, and police officers found two surgical knives in his van.

Tse said it is really difficult for police officers to decide in a split-second whether a pistol is an imitation firearm or a real one.

Separately, riotous mobs flocked to the streets outside Mong Kok Police Station on Wednesday night, pointing laser beams and setting up barricades in front of the station, Tse said.

In addition to deploying riot police, the police force also sent in officers specializing in negotiations to cool the situation down, but after multiple attempts of communication and subsequent warnings fell on deaf ears, the police had no other choice but to disperse the crowds, Tse said.

It is high time to say "No" to such random and reckless violence, said Tse, adding that more radical protesters are turning their malicious rhetoric into reality.

kevindai@chinadailyhk.com

(HK Edition 09/06/2019 page4)