HONG KONG — A high school student involved in anti-government protests in Hong Kong was shot in the chest by police during clashes with authorities. <br />The BBC reports that the incident came as thousands of people demonstrated in defiance of a protest ban for the 70th anniversary of Communist rule in China. <br />According to the BBC, although people have been shot with rubber bullets in previous protests, this marks the first time live ammunition has been used.<br />Reuters reports that Hong Kong police confirmed that an officer opened fire at a protester, saying he was acting in self-defense. <br />A police statement said, "a large group of rioters was attacking police officers in Tsuen Wan."<br />"Police officers warned them, but they were still attacking police. A police officer's life was seriously endangered. In order to save his and other officers' lives, they fired at the attacker."<br />According to Reuters, a clip posted to social media shows the 18-year-old protester swing a baton at a policeman, brushing his right arm. <br />The officer then fires a round into the protester's chest as he stumbles over another policeman and falls on his back. <br />According to the BBC, the man has been undergoing surgery and his condition is not known. Police say he was hit "near his left shoulder."<br />According to Hong Kong police, in addition to the bullet fired at the young protester, five other live rounds were fired at various locations on Tuesday.
