Tensions soar in HK as police bring in rubber bullets

[HONG KONG] Tensions in Hong Kong soared on Thursday after police were seen unloading boxes of tear gas and rubber bullets close to the city's besieged government headquarters, as the authorities urged pro-democracy demonstrators to disperse "as soon as possible".

Pictures shared widely on social media and television showed one barrel with the words "Round, 38mm rubber baton multi" written on it. Another had "1.5 in, CS" emblazoned on it, a possible reference to CS gas.

"I am worried that the police will use force to disperse the movement," Andrew Shum, a member of Occupy Central, one of the main protest groups, told AFP. "Everyone is discussing what they are going to do next."