A 70-year-old street sweeper hit by a brick during a clash between anti-government protesters and residents in Hong Kong on Wednesday has died.
He was one of three people " including a 15-year-old boy " -critically injured during confrontations over the past few days amid social unrest that created the worst political crisis in the former British colony since it returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
The 70-year-old, surnamed Luo, died on Thursday night after being struck in the head by a flying brick during a clash in the border town of Sheung Shui, a spokesman for Prince of Wales Hospital said.
Protests have continued for months to demand accountability for alleged police abuse and call for democratic reforms after the government backed down from its plan to allow extradition to mainland China from the city, which Beijing has promised to rule under a "one country, two systems" arrangement.
A police spokesman said Luo was taking photos at the scene when two groups of protesters and local residents removing their roadblocks threw bricks at each other.
Luo was employed by a cleaning service contractor for Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and was on his lunch break when he was hit, the department said in a statement.
The police said they had identified a number of suspects in connection with what they have classified as a murder case.
The protests have grown confrontational since they began in June as some of the biggest marches in the city's history and seen hundreds of people, including police officers, protesters and other civilians injured.
At least three protesters have been shot by live ammunition in clashes with police.
In another incident, a 15-year-old boy was reportedly hit on the head by tear gas canisters in the Tin Shui Wai neighborhood on Wednesday night during a police operation. He was in critical condition.
Violent episodes between civilians have also broken out between the protesters and their detractors.
A man was set on fire by protesters on Monday during a dispute.
The 57-year-old man, Leung Chi-cheung, was attacked after chasing a group of masked protesters who had vandalized a subway station. He remained in critical condition.
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