Beijing steps up war of words and airport obtains injunction against protesters to prevent further disruption of flights

Flights have resumed in and out of Hong Kong airport after two days of protests by pro-democracy activists as Chinese officials condemned the disruption that paralysed the international hub as “near-terrorist acts”.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled on Tuesday after demonstrators blockaded two terminals in the latest escalation of a 10-week political crisis that has gripped the city.

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But by Wednesday only a few dozen protesters remained at the airport in a sanctioned area after the airport authority obtained an interim injunction against demonstrators. The previous night, protesters had blocked travellers from checking into their flights, clashed with police, and tied down two men that demonstrators suspected of being spies.

The airport’s website showed dozens of flights taking off overnight and listed hundreds more which were scheduled to depart throughout the day, although many were cancelled or delayed. Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific said it has cancelled 272 flights in the last two days.

As the airport struggled to returned to normal on Wednesday, protesters gathered at the airport, bowing their heads to passengers and holding signs apologising for their behaviour. “Sorry for the inconvenience. We are fighting for the future of our home”, read one banner.

The sixth consecutive day of demonstrations at the airport came as Beijing stepped up its war of words against the protesters. China’s Hong Kong and Macao affairs office said in a statement that the airport protests were “near-terrorist acts”. It also strongly condemned attacks against a reporter from China’s Global Times newspaper at the airport by what it said were violent protesters.

The ruling Communist party’s official People’s Daily newspaper said on Wednesday that Hong Kong had reached a critical juncture.

Play Video 1:56 Hong Kong: airport protests descend into violence – video report

“Using the sword of the law to stop violence and restore order is overwhelmingly the most important and urgent task for Hong Kong!” it said. Another commentary by a Shenzhen University researcher, published by the China Daily, said the central government should deal with Hong Kong issues more decisively.

Hong Kong’s Airport Authority said on Wednesday it had obtained an interim injunction against protesters – meaning if they do return they could face arrest or forced removal by police. The order said that anyone found “inciting, aiding or abetting” obstruction of the airport as well as roads and passageways near it would be deemed in violation.

A similar action was taken against protesters in the last weeks of 2014’s Umbrella Movement democracy protests, clearing the way for police to remove protesters from a sit-in.

On Wednesday, pro-Beijing lawmakers said protesters had crossed a moral bottom line, echoing recent statements by Beijing that signs of “terrorism” were emerging in Hong Kong.

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Protesters appeared to be engaged in soul searching over the previous day’s clashes. Online demonstrators debated how and when to apologise to the public, while some drafted a code of conduct that included a rule not to “just attack” people suspected of being moles.

“Yesterday the protesters went too far,” said Biyanca Chu, a protester who was at the airport. Chu said protesters were trying to remind their colleagues not to resort to violence. “Don’t let hatred consume any of us,” she said, quoting a poster circulating online on Wednesday.

On Tuesday night, protesters battled with riot police armed with pepper spray and batons outside the terminal. In one of several flash points, demonstrators overpowered an armed officer who had forced a woman to the ground, taking his baton. The officer drew his pistol and aiming at protesters, who quickly fled, according to footage shared on social media.

Protesters also held a man at the airport on suspicion of being a spy. He was identified by the nationalistic Chinese newspaper Global Times as their reporter and later released. Earlier, crowds had tied down a man believed to be an undercover policeman and prevented paramedics from him for several hours, even as he collapsed.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Riot police use pepper spray to disperse anti-extradition bill protesters. Photograph: Tyrone Siu/Reuters

Police condemned the protesters overnight and said on Wednesday morning that a large group had “harassed and assaulted a visitor and a journalist”. Five people were detained, bringing the total number of people arrested since the protests began in June to more than 600, police said.

The Hang Seng stock index fell to a seven-month low on Tuesday and embattled Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said the city had been pushed into a state of “panic and chaos”.

Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests are a leaderless movement that has managed to mobilise large crowds through social media and messaging apps.

Activists turned their attention to the economically vital airport after weeks of huge peaceful rallies – and increasingly violent clashes between hardliners and police – failed to win any concessions from the city’s leaders or Beijing.

Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the situation in Hong Kong was tricky, but he hoped it would be resolved “for liberty” without anyone getting hurt or killed.

The US president cited intelligence as saying that China’s government was moving troops to its border with Hong Kong, and urged calm after the airport clashes.

It was not immediately clear whether Trump was reporting fresh troop movements or movements near the border already reported in the media. “Our intelligence has informed us that the Chinese government is moving troops to the border with Hong Kong. Everyone should be calm and safe!” he tweeted.