A teenager who was shot in the chest by police during protests in Hong Kong has been charged with rioting and assaulting an officer.
Police say criminal charges will be filed against 18-year-old student Tsang Chi-kin, who was shot at close range on Tuesday while striking an officer with a metal rod.
He was the first victim of police gunfire in the months-long pro-democracy protests.
A police statement said the youth will be charged on Thursday afternoon with two counts of attacking police. It is unclear if he will appear in court.
The government has said Tsang's condition was stable after surgery. He is believed to still be in hospital.
The shooting came on one of the most violent days of the demonstrations and amid inflamed anger against police, who already have been accused of being heavy-handed against protesters.
At least 66 people were injured in the clashes. Hospital authorities in Hong Kong said at the time that two people were in a critical condition and two suffered serious injuries.
Six other protesters are also set to be charged.
Police Senior Superintendent Yolanda Yu told a press conference after the shooting incident that “a large group of rioters attacked police officers on a large scale on Tai Ho Road in Tsuen Wan”.
“Police officers warned the attacker but he (continued) to violently attack the police,” Yu added. “Police officers at the scene, whose lives were seriously threatened, fired a live round in order to protect himself and his colleagues.”
It came as riot police fired tear gas in at least four districts - Wong Tai Sin, Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan and Tuen Mun - as protesters took to the streets.
Activists, using umbrellas as shields, threw gas canisters back. Petrol bombs, bricks and other objects were also thrown.
Police said some protesters used corrosive fluid in Tuen Mun, injuring officers and some reporters.
