Chaos in Guangzhou as angry residents overturn police cars and confront officials in protest over country’s harsh lockdowns
Crowds of protesters in China overturned police cars and stormed a government compound as anger over Covid lockdown measures exploded into violence in Guangzhou.
Riot police were deployed as hordes of residents tore down Covid control barriers in the city’s Haizhu district, which is under strict stay-at-home orders.
The area is home to many poorer itinerant labourers who have complained of not being paid if they are unable to turn up for work, as well as food shortages and skyrocketing prices.
Guangzhou, a city of 19 million people, is suffering from a sharp rise in Covid cases, with 5,000 new daily infections reported, fuelling speculation that localised lockdowns could widen.