Violent protests erupt in China over oppressive virus lockdown restrictions

‘It was quite tense out there last night – everyone made sure their doors were locked’

CROWDS overturned police cars and stormed a government building as anger over Covid lockdown measures exploded into violence in the Chinese city of Guangzhou.

Protesters tore down control barriers and yelled “no more testing” at public health workers as police were pelted with debris in Haizhu district .

The area, which is under strict stayat-home orders, houses many poorer itinerant labourers who have complained of not being paid if they are unable to turn up for work, as well as food shortages and skyrocketing prices.

Guangzhou, a city of 19 million people, is suffering from a sharp rise in Covid cases, with 5,000 new daily infections reported.

Videos widely shared on Twitter showed one in which a man was swimming across a waterway that separates Haizhu from the neighbouring area in an attempt to escape the lockdown.

One resident, named Chet, said: “It was quite tense out there last night.

“Everyone made sure their doors were locked.”

The district of more than 1.8 million residents has been under lockdown since late last month. China is the only major economy sticking to a zero-covid strategy, but swift and harsh lockdowns have battered the economy.