The leader of one of Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy groups has been taken to hospital after being attacked.
Photographs on social media showed Jimmy Sham of the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF) lying in the street, covered in blood.
It came hours after the territory's leader suspended her annual address after being heckled in parliament.
Mass protests in support of greater democracy in the territory began in June and show no sign of abating.
What happened to Jimmy Sham?
Reports say he was set upon by a group of up to five hammer-wielding men in the Mong Kok district of the Kowloon peninsula, and left with head injuries.
His CHRF group said he was conscious as he was taken to hospital.
It was the second time he had been attacked since the protests began.
The CHRF linked the attack to government supporters, who are suspected of assaulting other pro-democracy activists in recent months.
“It is not hard to link this incident to a spreading political terror in order to threaten and inhibit the legitimate exercise of natural and legal rights,” it said in a statement.
The non-violent protest group, which organised several huge marches earlier in the summer, said it was applying for a police permit to hold a new march on Sunday.
Its recent requests have been rejected by the authorities, while more hardcore activists have held protests in defiance of bans and clashed with police.
Amnesty International has urged the authorities to launch an…
