In this Feb 29, 2020 file photo, police officers inspect a burning barricade ignited by radical protesters to block a road in Mong Kok. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

HONG KONG - Hong Kong police arrested 230 radical protesters following violent clashes and illegal assemblies across a number of districts on Sunday. 

The Mother’s Day unrest was the first major outbreak of street violence after four months of relative quiet with the city enforcing restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19. Senior government officials and many civic leaders have warned that a resurgence of violence could destroy the chance of an economic recovery. 

The Mother’s Day unrest was the first major outbreak of street violence after four months of relative quiet with the city enforcing restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19

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On Sunday afternoon, groups of protesters gathered in at least six major shopping centers, including Grand Century Place in Mong Kok, waving anti-government banners and chanting slogans with disregard for a current ban, on public gatherings of more than eight people, in place to contain COVID-19.

Inside Grand Century Place, police said they intercepted “a number of” protesters and seized materials used for making petrol bombs, including gasoline and lighters, from one of them. Inside the mall, protesters threw hard objects at riot police officers who responded with pepper spray.

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Earlier, police had objected for reason of public health to an application by anti-government protesters to march from Tsim Sha Tsui to Mong Kok.