HONG KONG - Bouts of violence and vandalism erupted at unlawful assemblies on Sunday, leaving some of Hong Kong's busiest streets paralyzed.

Radical protesters erected roadblocks, started fires and attacked police officers with volleys of hard objects.

Droves of thugs trashed storefronts and vandalized facilities such as street lights.

Police deployed water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowds in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai. 

Protesters dismantle mill barriers in the middle of the road in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, during an illegal assembly on May 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)

Miscellaneous items are strewn in front of metal barriers used by anti-government protesters as a barricade during an illegal assembly in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, May 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)

Smashed traffic lights no longer functions in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, May 24, 2020.  (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)

Broken pieces of glass scatter on the road after a window of a clothing store was smashed by anti-government protesters during an illegal assembly in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, May 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)

Police officers react after being attacked by anti-government protesters by volleys of hard objects in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, May 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)

A police officer fires tear gas to disperse anti-government protesters in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, May 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)

Masked reporters run away from tear gas while covering an anti-government protest in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, May 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)

A black-clad protester carries a traffic cone as other protesters (back) set up a barricade with metal railings during an illegal assembly in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, May 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)

A black-clad protester sets up a barricade with metal railings during an illegal assembly in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, May 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)

A barricade set up by protesters with bamboo sticks and metal railings blocks traffic in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, May 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)

Protesters use umbrellas to block reporters' view during an illegal assembly in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, May 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)

Protesters use umbrellas to cover their acts as a barricade made of metal railings lays in the middle of the road in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, May 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)

Protesters use umbrellas to cover their acts as wooden ladders and plastic water bottles were laid on the road to block traffic in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, May 24, 2020. (PHOTO/CHINA DAILY)