Protesters clashed with police in Hong Kong again on Tuesday, blocking some major roads, including in the central business district, and causing universities to suspend classes.

After a long day of chaotic scenes on Monday, the continued clashes shut many businesses and threatened further disruption well into the working week. Previously, most major rallies have been reserved for weekends and the evening.

Several thousand demonstrators took over a large portion of the central business district at lunchtime, briefly facing off with riot police as suited city workers in face masks looked on.

After the police retreated out of sight, dramatic videos showed black-clad protesters also leaving the scene to what appeared to be supportive chants and applause from members of the public.

Police took a more direct approach to handling a series of rallies outside universities, where violent clashes involving petrol bombs and the liberal firing of teargas led most institutions to call off all lessons for the day.

Streets inside and outside the Chinese University campus entrance were littered with bricks, other debris and small street fires as police tackled some protesters to the ground.

A van used as part of a street barricade was set ablaze. And the university briefly cautioned that a storeroom had been broken into and potential weapons such as bows, arrows and javelins had been taken. All were later retrieved, it said.

The Demosisto pro-democracy group shared video of an incident on what appeared to be an MTR station footbridge, during which a woman was pepper-sprayed and tackled to the ground by a group of riot police officers.

Demosisto said the woman was pregnant, though this could not be independently verified. The group’s secretary general, Joshua Wong, called it an “outrage”.

As on Monday, protesters used bricks and debris to block roads and disrupted train services in several places.

Social media videos showed train passengers being escorted along the tracks on foot, while on one major thoroughfare half a dozen of Hong Kong’s famous trams were lined up bumper to bumper, unable to move.

The words “Join Us” were spray-painted on the front window of a stopped double-decker bus, abandoned by its driver and passengers with one of its windows broken.

Chief executive​ Carrie Lam, speaking to reporters after a meeting with advisers, called the disruption to another day’s commute “a very selfish act”.

“People from different sectors in society are holding fast to their positions and refusing to concede to violence or other radical actions,” she said. “I hereby express my gratitude to those who are still going to work and school today.”

In the central business district, though, the protesters still appeared to conjure widespread popular support – in spite of the inconvenience caused.

One 24-year-old, who would not give his name, left his office at lunchtime and joined those filling the pavements to watch the action. He told the Associated Press that he was there to support the protesters and accused the police of using excessive force, a common complaint among the city’s 7.4 million people.

Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Show all 32 1 /32 Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures A protester throws a stone into a building at Hong Kong Polytechnic University on 11 November Reuters Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Police patrol the streets of Hong Kong the day after an officer shot a protester during a protest on 11 November EPA Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Riot police stand guard during a protest against police brutality in Hong Kong on 27 October EPA Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Protesters carry traffic cones to build a barricade during anti-government protests in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong on 11 November Reuters Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Protesters use obstacles and bricks to block a road in Hong Kong on 11 November AP Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Graffiti on a window smashed by student protesters in Hong Kong Polytechnic University AP Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Protesters carry US and British flags during a demonstration in Hong Kong on 11 November Reuters Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures A protester throws a bottle of water as he is shrouded in tear gas during a demonstration in the Tsim Sha Tsui district of Hong Kong on 27 October Reuters Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Journalists take pictures of police officers as they move to disperse protesters in Hong Kong on 27 October Reuters Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures An man lies injured after being attacked by protesters who suspected him of being an undercover police officer on 27 October EPA Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures A man runs among tear gas during a protest in Hong Kong on 27 October Reuters Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Protesters gather on a field in the Tsim Sha Tsui district of Hong Kong on 27 October Reuters Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Pro-democracy protesters turn away from a fire lit outside the Causeway Bay Mass Rapid Transit (MTR) station in Hong Kong on 4 October Getty Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures People rest near rows of riot police officers during a protest in Mong Kok, Hong Kong on 27 October Reuters Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Pro-democracy protesters hold umbrellas as police fire tear gas at them ouside Tai Koo MTR station in Hong Kong on 3 October Getty Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Hong Kong police fire a water cannon from the central government office at protesters during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on October 1 AFP/Getty Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Protesters burn a Chinese national flag during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on 1 October AFP/Getty Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Protesters remove signs celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China during a mass rally in Hong Kong on 1 October AFP/Getty Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Cardboard boxes set alight by protesters burn in the streets of Hong Kong during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on 1 October EPA Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures An anti-China banner has been placed in a barricade during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on 1 October EPA Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures A pro-democracy protester runs away after police fire a tear gas canister in Hong Kong's Wong Tai Sin district on October 4 Reuters Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Protesters run after police fire tear gas during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on 4 October AFP/Getty Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Pro-democracy protester take cover after police fire a tear gas canister in Hong Kong's Wong Tai Sin district on 4 October Reuters Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures The rally comes after months of protests on the streets of Hong Kong which began in oppposition to a proposed extradition bill EPA Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures The extradition bill would have allowed the government to extradite people to China if they were facing certain criminal charges AFP/Getty Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Opposition to the bill stems from the fear that the Chinese government would abuse this power for political or commercial reasons EPA Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Protesters soon came to demand greater freedom and universal suffrage under the One Country, Two Systems principle AFP/Getty Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Protesters are wearing black to symbolise opposition to China as they take to the streets in a "day of grief" while the Chinese state celebrates the 70th anniversary of its communist founding AFP/Getty Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures A protester charges forward holding umbrellas as a mass rally breaks out in violence in Hong Kong on 1 October AFP/Getty Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures A protester pours water on a tear gas canister fired by police during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on 1 October Reuters Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures A protester carries a vandalised Chinese flag through Hong Kong during a mass rally on the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on 1 October EPA Hong Kong protesters out in force after months of turmoil: In pictures Protesters carry a banner that denounces the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China on 1 October EPA

Emily, a woman in her thirties working in the finance sector, was carrying a black leather shoulder bag and wearing a black mask and swimming goggles.

In the bag was a bowl to cover tear gas canisters when they land on the street, and a gas mask.

“I won’t take part in the attacks, I am here to try to protect the kids,” she told Reuters.

Police said more than 260 people were arrested on Monday, bringing the total number to more than 3,000 since the protests escalated in June.

On a particularly violent day in the months-long unrest, a police officer shot a black-clad protester in the abdomen and, in another district of the city, a man was set on fire during what appeared to be a political argument.