Riot police in Kuwait have once again used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse thousands of protesters who gathered in Kuwait for the fifth day straight demanding the release of a detained opposition leader.

Social media and witness reports from the ground say that armored vehicles were firing volleys at activists as they marched toward a court complex in the capital Kuwait City, where opposition leader and a former MP, Mussallam al Barrak, is scheduled to face trial on Monday on charges of insulting the judiciary.

Defying government orders not to hold unauthorized protests, more than 2,000 people tried to make it to old market where police broke up the demonstration, chasing some activists along the narrow streets of the city center.

Kuwait's Interior Ministry in a press release said there were no injuries when security forces dispersed the activists. No arrests were mentioned at the “unauthorized” rally, Start Tribute reports.

The ministry blamed demonstrators for the violence, saying that unidentified men threw a petrol bomb at the jail where Barrak has been held for the past five days.

It was the fifth night of violence in Kuwait sparked by the arrest of Barrak, who says he has documents that prove illicit financial transfers to senior officials, including judges.