Mob violence marks 2nd day of protests at Hong Kong airport

Frenzied mob violence on Tuesday against two men protesters suspected of being spies from mainland China marked the second day of pro-democracy demonstrations that have caused mass cancellations and disruptions in Hong Kong's busy airport.

Calm eventually returned, with most of the protesters leaving the airport hours after officers armed with pepper spray and swinging batons tried to enter the terminal, fighting with demonstrators who barricaded entrances with luggage carts.

Riot police clashed briefly with the demonstrators, who said they planned to return to the airport early Wednesday.

More than 100 flights were cancelled on Tuesday, the fifth consecutive day that protesters occupied the airport. Airlines were still working through a backlog of more than 200 flights from Monday when the airport announced in the afternoon that check-in processes would once again be suspended.

"Democracy is a good thing," said signs that appeared to be aimed at mainland Chinese and foreign travellers.

Many signs also contained apologies for the disruption to travelers: "We stand here to obstruct, only for one single reason. We love and care for Hong Kong. We hope you will understand. Sorry."
"Fu Guohao, reporter of GT website is being seized by demonstrators at HK airport," Hu wrote on his widely-followed Twitter account. "I affirm this man being tied in this video is the reporter himself. He has no other task except for reporting."
Lam has rejected calls for dialogue, saying Tuesday the protesters were threatening to push their home into an "abyss."