香港警方與示威者17日在紅磡理工大學一帶對峙，中國《環球時報》總編輯胡錫進表示，網站瘋傳有裝甲車被汽油彈擊中並起火的短片，他認為警方表現克制，應獲授權對示威者發射實彈。
《環時》總編胡錫進18日凌晨在推特（Twitter）用英文發文，還附上香港警方銳武裝甲車被汽油彈擊中並焚燒的影片，內文寫著該影片在中國內瘋傳，「香港今（昨）晚猶如戰場，暴徒以汽油彈襲擊裝甲警車，導致其著火，但警方仍保持克制，警方在這情況下應獲准開實彈槍以制服暴徒。」
This video went viral on China's internet. HK looks like a battlefield tonight. Rioters attacked armored police vehicle with petrol bombs, causing it to catch fire.But police still exercise restraint. Police should be permitted to fire live rounds in this case to counter rioters. pic.twitter.com/dD9Qxl1AUf
— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) November 17, 2019
胡錫進之後又發文稱：「看來香港警察已包圍在理大內的暴徒主力軍，請依法逮捕他們。他們是劫持香港未來並威脅要毀滅香港的新型恐怖分子。」
It seems Hong Kong police have encircled main force of rioters in the Polytechnic University. Please arrest them in accordance with the law. They are new type of terrorists who have hijacked Hong Kong's future and threatened to kill the city.
— Hu Xijin 胡锡进 (@HuXijin_GT) November 17, 2019
延伸閱讀：示威者徹夜頑抗警清晨掃蕩理大 裝甲車燒毀警稱「最低武力」開實彈還擊
