Hong Kong airport attacks trigger nationalist frenzy in mainland China
- Tuesday night’s attacks prompt widespread outrage on social media
- State media praises the two injured men, but some commentators criticise the central government over its perceived failure to take tougher action
The attacks on two mainland Chinese men at Hong Kong airport on Tuesday evening by anti-government protesters have set off a firestorm of criticism on the mainland.
The two men – Fu Guohao, who was later identified as a reporter from the state-owned Global Times tabloid, and Xu Jinyang – were mobbed and assaulted by Hong Kong protesters, who suspected they were undercover agents.
News of the attacks spread like wildfire on the mainland, where public sentiment towards Hong Kong has already hardened over the past weeks following a state-led propaganda campaign to discredit the protests.
Within hours of the attacks, state media started posting condemnations of the protesters and sought to rally support for the two victims.
Fu, who was rescued by Hong Kong police and later treated in hospital, was hailed by some internet users as a national hero and applauded for standing up to his attackers.
Many websites shared a video clip of the chaos on Tuesday night when Fu was surrounded by black-clad protesters who tied his hands.
