Projectile-hurling protesters in Hong Kong forced a platoon of riot police to retreat today (May 24th).

As the officers backed away from the Sogo department store in Causeway Bay, they fired tear gas on the crowd from a short range and without putting on their own gas masks.

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets to protest against the planned adoption of a national security law by China in Hong Kong.

In tense moments in Causeway Bay, as a riot police platoon retreated from Sogo department store towards Wanchai, they were chased by protesters who threw various projectiles such as umbrellas and tree branches. As they were being pressured, they shot tear gas on the crowd at very short range, without having even the time to don their own gas mask.