Police have accused a Hong Kong university of being a “manufacturing base for petrol bombs and a refuge for rioters and criminals” following overnight clashes with anti-government protesters. 

The city was paralysed on Wednesday, with much of its public transport suspended and all universities closed after a night of violent clashes at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Police had fired multiple shots and rounds of teargas at the campus on Tuesday night and used water cannon on students, who retaliated with petrol bombs and bricks.

Several universities in the city, including the Chinese University of Hong Kong, announced immediate termination of the current term, scheduled to end in early December.