Hong Kong police on Monday condemned the actions of "extremely violent protesters" who had hurled petrol bombs and bricks at police in Tsuen Wen on Sunday. Around 8pm in Tsuen Wen, in the western New Territories, a group of masked protesters wielding metal and bamboo poles chased a smaller group of police down Sha Tsui Road. One news video showed an officer stumbling over a water barricade and falling to the ground shortly before a gunshot was heard. The sound of the gun shot stopped the advancing protesters in their tracks. Officers drew their revolvers and advanced towards protesters. Police officers draw their weapons during a confrontation with protesters in Hong Kong on Sunday. Credit:AP A middle-aged man wearing a singlet ran in front of the police and knelt, begging them not to fire. He was kicked away. Hong Kong police confirmed a live shot was fired and said the officer had felt his life was in danger. "One of the police officers under attack fell onto the ground. Being surrounded, under attack and facing threats of life, six police officers withdrew pistols," a Hong Kong government statement said. "One of the police officers fired a warning shot to the sky without any other choices."

Protesters had earlier surrounded a police van in Tsuen Wan and attacked it with poles, smashing the window. Loading Accusations of police brutality have driven the protest movement, and demands that Lam's government form an independent commission into police conduct is one of five protester demands. But Occupy founder Benny Tai, who was recently released on bail after being convicted of public nuisance for his role in organising 2014 democracy protests, said on Monday that a pardon should be offered by the government to both police and protesters caught up in the crisis, as a way to find a solution. Police had been "put into very difficult positions. They have orders from their seniors", Tai told local media. The Hong Kong Police Force said in a statement that police commissioner Stephen Lo had visited injured officers in Princess Margaret Hospital and said they had been attacked by "rioters" in Tsuen Wan. He had expressed "strong anger" at the attack.

Video of another group of black-clad protesters retreating to Sha Tin's New Town Plaza showed a huge cheer erupting from shoppers at the glossy mall as the protesters filed through, with people stopping to clap. Hong Kong lawyer and commentator Kevin Yam said he was uneasy with "cheering on impressionable youth" to commit violence on the front line because they were risking their future. But Yam said many people, including him, "can understand why an escalation of violence is happening in the absence of any alternatives". Hong Kong police drew weapons and rolled out water cannon trucks for the first time on Sunday night. Credit:AP "A lot of people are saying they don't agree with what the young protesters are up to on the frontline but we understand their frustration."

Clashes between police and protesters escalated after Lam met community leaders to hear views on establishing a "dialogue platform". She was reportedly told by many at the closed-door meeting that she needed to make concessions to the protesters. But Lam is yet to make any concessions. The violence at the weekend ended a period of relative calm after 1.7 million residents marched the prior Sunday to reiterate calls for Lam to withdraw the bill and hold an independent inquiry into police conduct. After thousands had marched in Tsuen Wan in an authorised rally on Sunday, a smaller group of protesters dug in behind barricades and threw Molotov cocktails at police. Two water cannon trucks, deployed to Hong Kong streets for the first time, sprayed water at the protesters' barricades, prompting the protesters to leave. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video