Authorities at Hong Kong airport today suspended all departure check-ins after pro-democracy protesters blocked the facility for a second day, but some flights were still arriving and taking off. 'Terminal operations at Hong Kong International Airport have been seriously disrupted as a result of the public assembly,' the airport authority said in a statement. 'All check-in service for departure flights has been suspended since 1630hrs (0830 GMT). Other departure and arrival flights for the rest of the day will continue to operate, and airlines will provide arrangements for passengers who have not completed the departure process.' 'Members of the public are advised not to come to the airport.'

Amid chaotic scenes officers armed with pepper spray and swinging batons confronted the pro-democracy activists and a number of violent scuffles broke out, resulting in arrests. At one stage demonstrators surrounded a policeman who had forced a protester to the floor, grabbed his baton from him and started attacking him, until he took out his gun and pointed it at them. It comes as Beijing has made ominous declarations this week branding anti-extradition bill activists, in their 10th week as 'mobsters', as a military presence, including tanks, started to amass on the Chinese border, in the nearby city of Shenzhen, amid fears of a military crackdown. 😱