Top: Armed men dressed in white attacking passengers on the platform of Yuen Long station Bottom: Riot police seemingly ignoring armed men dressed in white who were intimidating reporters
The 2019 Yuen Long attack, also known as the 721 incident, or 721 821,[8] refers to a mob attack that occurred in Yuen Long, a town in the New Territories of Hong Kong, on the evening of 21 July 2019.[9] It took place in the context of the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests.[9][10][11] A mob of indigenous Yuen Long villagers dressed in white, claiming to protect Yuen Long against protestors stormed the MTR's Yuen Long station.[12][13] and allegedly caused 45 injuries, which included[14] protesters returning from a demonstration in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island,[15] journalists and lawmakers.[16]
Despite over 24,000 calls to the 999 emergency hotline,[17] the police arrived 39 minutes after the attacks and one minute after the mobs had left the station.[18][19][20] Around 30 non-police tactical unit trained police officers were assigned to standby at Tuen Mun Police Station for contingency.[21] No arrests were made that night. At least 45 people were injured in the incident,[22] including a suspected pregnant woman.[23] The Hospital Authority responded that accident and emergency departments at public hospitals had not received any cases of pregnant women related to the incident.[24]
The government later distanced itself from the violence, and rejected accusations that it or the police had colluded with the mob.[15] Over the following two years, the government and police commented that the public were misled into seeing the Yuen Long attacks as a “one-sided indiscriminate terrorist attack”, falsely[25] claiming that the incident “started off as a gang fight involving a sizeable number of participants from both sides.”[26][27]
^"The Government strongly condemns violent acts". Government of Hong Kong. 22 July 2020. Archived from the original on 21 July 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2020. Meanwhile in Yuen Long, some people congregated at the platforms of the MTR station and train compartments, attacking commuters. It led to confrontations and injuries.
^"Police condemn violent acts". Government of Hong Kong. 22 July 2020. Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2020. Meanwhile, assault cases also happened in Yuen Long.
^【元朗襲擊】白裙女懷孕不足3個月沒通知醫院 診所求醫證胎平安 (22:46). online "instant news". Ming Pao. Hong Kong: Media Chinese International. 23 July 2019. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 23 July 2019.