A 14-year-old boy has reportedly been shot by an off-duty police officer during protests in Hong Kong.
He is said to be in a serious condition after suffering a leg injury.
The teenager was shot at close range, Apple Daily reports, and was left bleeding heavily.
Witnesses claim the officer was then involved in a brawl as furious demonstrators attempted to beat him and set him alight.
Riot police are said to be guarding the hospital where the teenager is undergoing surgery.
A source told the South China Morning Post that the officer had been in a car when the windows were smashed.
He was grabbed by members of an angry crowd, opening fire as he feared being killed.
The insider said: "The officer fell to the ground, he fired one shot as his life was under serious threat."
It is the second time police officers have reportedly opened fire on protesters this week.
On Tuesday an 18-year-old , leaving him fighting for his life.
Violence has erupted again today as authorities brought in emergency powers to ban demonstrators wearing masks.
Earlier today Hong Kong's chief executive Carrie Lam told a press conference: "We must stop the violence. Now, it's all over Hong Kong."
Nearly four months of anti-government protests have plunged Hong Kong into its biggest political crisis since its handover from Britain to China in 1997.
Lam said her move was necessary to quell escalating violence.
But as darkness fell, defiant demonstrators took to the streets to vent their anger, vandalising what they perceived to be China-friendly businesses and blocking road in the heart of the financial centre.
Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in flashpoint districts across the territory, including Causeway Bay, Sha Tin and Wong Tai Sin.
Shopping malls, banks and shops across Hong Kong island had closed early in anticipation of violence as some protesters burned Chinese flags and chanted "You burn with us", and "Hong Kongers, revolt".
We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.
