Police search Yuen Long MTR station on 7th anniversary of 2019 mob attack, activists protest slow response

Seven years after the violent mob attack in Yuen Long, police conducted searches at the MTR station on the anniversary of the incident. The searches, carried out by plainclothes officers, targeted individuals including activist Lee Ying-chi, who was questioned after police found documents in her bag. Activists gathered at the station brought watermelons, a symbolic reference to one of the alleged attackers, a watermelon farmer.

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What the fuck are you searching for?

Lee and others present voiced strong criticism of the police response to the 2019 attack, arguing that many perpetrators escaped justice while those who acted in self-defense were imprisoned. The incident, where over a hundred men in white shirts stormed the station and attacked passengers, resulted in numerous injuries and is seen as a pivotal moment in the 2019 pro-democracy protests.

Questions were directed at the officers, with one man asking, "Why did you turn away on 721?" implying that police presence could have prevented the chaos. Another individual wearing a "Uncovering the truth, confronting justice" t-shirt was also searched. An elderly woman displayed photos of officers leaving the station before the attack, shouting, "Where were the police on 721?" She and a companion were subsequently taken aside by MTR staff.

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Why did you turn away on 721?

Official accounts of the attack have shifted over time, with the police watchdog eventually characterizing it as a "gang fight." While 13 men have been convicted and sentenced, many feel justice has not been fully served. The article notes that former lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting and others were jailed for rioting years after being attacked, highlighting the ongoing controversy surrounding the event and its aftermath.

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Where were the police on 721?