Hong Kong police use tougher tactics against protesters

Hong Kong police resorted to harsher-than-usual tactics to suppress protesters this week in the city's most violent turmoil in decades.

Police fired rubber bullets and beanbag rounds at the crowds, weapons that have not been widely used in recent history.

Human rights groups criticized the tough tactics, while police said they were necessary against crowds of people who broke through barriers outside government headquarters and the legislature on Wednesday.

FILE - In this file photo taken Wednesday, June 12, 2019, a policeman fires with a pepper ball gun towards protesters near the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Hong Kong police have resorted to harsher-than-usual tactics to suppress protesters this week in the city’s most violent turmoil in decades. Police fired rubber bullets and beanbag rounds at the crowds, weapons that have not been widely used in recent history. (AP PhotoKin Cheung, File)

The violence left 79 people injured, Hong Kong's Hospital Authority said. Police said 22 officers were among the injured.

"Because there were serious clashes outside the Legislative Council, we had to use some weapons including police batons, pepper spray, pepper based solution, bean bag rounds, rubber bullets, and tear gas," said Stephen Lo, the Hong Kong commissioner of police.

Many protesters wore hard hats, masks and plastic wrap as protection. Eleven were arrested.

FILE - In this file photo taken Wednesday, June 12, 2019, riot police try to disperse protesters with fire tear gas outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Hong Kong police have resorted to harsher-than-usual tactics to suppress protesters this week in the city’s most violent turmoil in decades. Police fired rubber bullets and beanbag rounds at the crowds, weapons that have not been widely used in recent history. (AP PhotoVincent Yu, File)

Tear gas was used for the first time since the huge pro-democracy "Umbrella Movement" demonstrations in 2014, which marked the beginning of a shift to a tougher police approach.

Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at London's School of Oriental and African Studies, said that before 2014, Hong Kong police handled large demonstrations by using softer, non-confrontational tactics. They didn't wear tactical helmets and instead gave out bottled water and medical kits.

The officers "almost invariably managed to get the local demonstrators to cooperate with them," he said. Police "kept all the hardware in vans and buses" instead of bringing it out onto the streets, he added.

FILE - In this file photo taken Wednesday, June 12, 2019, a police officer sprays pepper spray at protesters using an umbrella for protection near the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Hong Kong police have resorted to harsher-than-usual tactics to suppress protesters this week in the city’s most violent turmoil in decades. Police fired rubber bullets and beanbag rounds at the crowds, weapons that have not been widely used in recent history. (AP PhotoKin Cheung, File)

In September 2014, police unleashed 87 rounds of tear gas at protesters who had amassed in the same location as the current protests. They temporarily forced the protesters off the roads they had occupied, but after the smoke dissipated, bigger crowds returned, angrier than before, and didn't leave for nearly three months.

Tsang said a similar result is the most likely outcome this time.

Amnesty International's Hong Kong director, Man-Kei Tam, said tear gas and rubber bullets should never be used to disperse peaceful protesters because they are "notoriously inaccurate and indiscriminate, and can result in serious injury and even death."

FILE - In this file photo taken Wednesday, June 12, 2019, police fire tear gas towards protesters outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Hong Kong police have resorted to harsher-than-usual tactics to suppress protesters this week in the city’s most violent turmoil in decades. Police fired rubber bullets and beanbag rounds at the crowds, weapons that have not been widely used in recent history. (AP PhotoVincent Yu, File)

The group warned that the police action was "fueling tensions and is likely to contribute to worsening violence, rather than end it."

Before 2014, police last used tear gas and pepper spray against South Korean farmers protesting against the World Trade Organization talks in Hong Kong in 2005. Prior to that, the most violent riots in the city were in 1967, when pro-communist supporters clashed with British colonial authorities as the Cultural Revolution spilled over from mainland China.

The only recent incident in which Hong Kong police deployed potentially lethal force came during the 2016 Lunar New Year holiday, when protesters clashed with police in the city's gritty Mong Kok neighborhood and an officer used his gun to fire warning shots into the air.

FILE - In this file photo taken Wednesday, June 12, 2019, a cameraman lies injured after riot police fire tear gas on protesters outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. Hong Kong police have resorted to harsher-than-usual tactics to suppress protesters this week in the city’s most violent turmoil in decades. Police fired rubber bullets and beanbag rounds at the crowds, weapons that have not been widely used in recent history. (AP PhotoVincent Yu, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Brent Rooker was placed on the 10-day injured list by the Athletics on Friday because of an oblique strain, ending a streak of 213 consecutive games played for the outfielder and designated hitter.

Zack Gelof was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to fill the roster spot prior to the Athletics’ series opener at the New York Mets.

Manager Mark Kotsay didn’t provide a timeline for the All-Star slugger, who will miss his first game Friday since Aug. 15, 2024, the last time the Athletics were at Citi Field.

“We’re hopeful that Rook can get back as soon as possible,” Kotsay said.

Rooker was injured while fouling off a changeup in the first inning of Thursday’s 1-0 victory at the New York Yankees.

“I’m a little tight and a little sore, but we’ll get imaging done and see what that says,” Rooker said after the game.

Rooker is hitting .146 with two home runs and seven of his eight RBIs in his three games before Thursday.

His playing streak is the club’s fourth longest since 2000. It's also the longest streak for an A's player since Marcus Semien appeared in 276 straight games from June 28, 2018-Aug. 29, 2020.

“It was the first thing I thought about — I know Rook prides himself on playing every day,” Kotsay said.

Last season, Rooker hit .262 with 30 homers and 89 RBIs when he appeared in every game and earned All-Star selection. He also took part in the Home Run Derby, hitting 17 but failing to move on to the semifinals after losing the tiebreaker by less than an inch in total distance.

Rooker signed a $60 million, five-year contract in January 2025, a deal that could be worth up to $92 million over six seasons. That would take him through the 2029 season, the year after the A’s are scheduled to move to Las Vegas.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Athletics' Brent Rooker swings at a strike, and then left the game following the at bat, during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)