[Graphic pictures] A pro-democracy district councillor has had his ear bitten off by a man in Tai Koo moments after the attacker reportedly slashed several other people with a knife. The assailant was then beaten up by a crowd in retaliation.

Andrew Chiu attacked. Photo: inmediahk.net.

Several sit-in protests occurred at shopping malls across the city on Sunday before riot police entered to disperse them.

Sha Tin’s New Town Plaza. Photo: Kaiser/United Social Press.

At Cityplaza in Tai Koo, police stormed the mall early in the evening after the entrances of two restaurants were spray painted.

A police press release said officers attended to make arrests: “Police warn the masked rioters to stop all destructive and illegal acts and appeal to the protestors to stay rational and calm.”

Knifeman attack

Outside the mall, a Mandarin-speaking man in a grey shirt slashed several people with a knife, according to RTHK.

Photo: inmediahk.net.

A crowd confronted him, including 34-year-old Democratic Party member Andrew Chiu who has represented the Tai Koo West constituency since 2008.

Chiu tried to grab the man to stop him from leaving. At around 7:30pm, he bit Chiu’s left ear off, which fell to the ground.

Onlookers helped put Chiu’s bitten off ear into a plastic bag as he bled.

Photo: Stand News.

Other people attempted to subdue the man, but he struggled. They punched and kicked the man in retaliation.

Five injured people, including one in serious condition, were rushed to Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, according to a government spokesperson.

Outside the hospital, Democratic Party lawmaker James To said Chiu was undergoing emergency treatment.

“We don’t know if his ear can be connected again,” he said.

Photo: Stand News.

To said Chiu was urging residents to go home, as not to risk attack: “He was worried that police may use violence at residents,” To said.

Protests first sparked by the now withdrawn extradition law have continued since June. They have evolved into sometimes violent displays of dissent against police action, calls for democracy, and anger over Beijing’s encroachment.

Chiu is running in the District Council election’s Tai Koo Shing West constituency. Kacee Ting of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong is also running.

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