
A knifeman has left a politician with a severed ear and five people with stab wounds as political clashes in Hong Kong rumble on.

The brutal conflict took place outside a shopping mall in the middle-class neighbourhood of Tai Koo Shing on Hong Kong's main island.

The knifeman had been arguing with some of the victims about politics before he pulled out the weapon.

Andrew Chiu, a local pro-democracy councillor, then tried to tackle the man but during the resulting struggle the attacker bit off the politician's ear.

Andrew Chiu (pictured), a local pro-democracy councillor, tried to tackle the man with the knife after the attacker had stabbed five protestors

The brutal knife fight took place outside a shopping mall in the middle-class neighbourhood of Tai Koo Shing. Pictured: Blood and debris are seen on the ground at the entrance of the mall

It is thought that the attacker was a Mandarin speaker which is the predominant language on the Chinese mainland. Pictured: Paramedics treat one of the victims being carried on a stretcher

Local broadcaster, RTHK news, filmed the brawl and showed Mr Chiu in the aftermath of the assault with much of his ear severed as a knife lay on the floor.

The news site reported that the attacker was a Mandarin speaker which is the predominant language on the Chinese mainland.

One man was left unconscious after the attack and was bleeding out on to the floor as bystanders desperately tried to stem the wounds to his back.

The struggle between the pair resulted in the attacker biting off the politician's ear as onlookers desperately tried to pry the two apart

Dozens of medics rushed to the scene to treat the six wounded people outside the mall in Tai Koo Shing on Hong Kong's main island

Police later said that six people - four men and two women - had been wounded in total. They also confirmed that three people had been arrested. Pictured: Riot police fire pepper spray toward protestors

The crowd began to pursue had beaten one man, who they accused of carrying out the attack, and left him covered in blood.

Police later said that six people - four men and two women - had been wounded in total.

They also confirmed that three people had been arrested but they did not give further details.

The violence that was sparked today was less sustained than it had been earlier in the week but still caused hours of cat and mouse battles between protestors and police. Pictured: Riot police disperse anti-government protestors in Tai Po

Protestors had gathered at the store for much of the afternoon as flash-mob rallies erupted at shopping centres across the international finance hub. Pictured: Police try to detain a man inside a MTR station in the Sha Tin district of Hong Kong

Hong Kong has been upended by the huge, often violent, pro-democracy protests which have battered the financial hub's reputation for stability and helped plunge the city into recession. Pictured: An anti-government protestor raise her hands as riot police use pepper spray

The violence that was sparked today was less sustained than earlier in the week but still caused hours of cat and mouse battles between protestors and police as flash-mob rallies erupted inside multiple shopping centers across the city.

Hong Kong has been upended by the huge, often violent, pro-democracy protests which have battered the financial hub's reputation for stability and helped plunge the city into recession.

Police are firing ever increasing rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets against small groups of hardcore protesters who have embraced throwing petrol bombs as well as vandalising pro-China businesses.

Beijing supporters have attacked opponents throughout the summer in often targeted assaults against prominent government critics and opposition politicians. Pictured: A man scuffles with a police officer as shoppers and anti-government protestors gather at New Town Plaza

Police are firing ever increasing rounds of tear gas and rubber bullets against small groups of hardcore protesters who have embraced throwing petrol bombs as well as vandalising pro-China businesses. Pictured: A police officer aims his weapon at shoppers and anti-government protestors

Crowds of pro-democracy protesters have also routinely beaten their ideological opponents, usually in spontaneous mob violence during rallies. Pictured: Riot police detain an anti-government protestor at shopping mall in Tai Po, Hong Kong

Riot police detained protestors throughout the day including two women at a shopping mall in Tai Po, Hong Kong, who had been wrestled to the ground

With the city desperately polarised, street fights have broken out on both sides of the ideological divide with growing frequency.

Beijing supporters have attacked opponents throughout the summer in often targeted assaults against prominent government critics and opposition politicians.

Crowds of pro-democracy protesters have also routinely beaten their ideological opponents, usually in spontaneous mob violence during rallies.

Activists show no sign of leaving the streets with 22 consecutive weekends of unrest. Pictured: Riot police members shout as they carry a detained protestor outside a shopping mall in Tai Po

With the city desperately polarised, street fights have broken out on both sides of the ideological divide with growing frequency. Pictured: One police officer detains a protestor

Protesters are demanding an inquiry into the police, an amnesty for those arrested and fully free elections. Pictured: Police try to detain a man inside a MTR station

Police retreated from a shopping mall in Tai Po, Hong Kong, with their shields, batons and pepperspray raised after they detained several anti-government protestors

Beijing has shown no willingness to meet demonstrators demands for greater democratic freedoms and police accountability - and activists show no sign of leaving the streets with 22 consecutive weekends of unrest.

This summer's first protests in which millions marched were sparked by a now-abandoned attempt to allow extraditions to the mainland.

But as Beijing took a hardline the movement snowballed.

Protesters are demanding an inquiry into the police, an amnesty for those arrested and fully free elections.