'Red Shirt' rally: Provocation believed to be main cause for firing of water cannon

Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel were forced to take action by releasing water cannons on ‘Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu’ participants at Petaling Street allegedly after continued provocation.

The incident broke out at around 4.40pm as participants refused to budge from the area, which also saw a person being injured to the head after being hit by a hard object, believed to be a rock.

At around 4.35pm, the FRU had sounded an alarm before releasing the water on participants.

The participants, who converged at the main entrance to Petaling Street at 1.30pm, had insisted on entering the area, known as ‘China Town’, forcing police to cordon off the area.

Participants had also hurled insults to media personnel.

At least two participants were detained by police at Petaling Street for rioting.

Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, which had been closed to traffic since 1.30pm Wednesday, was reopened at 8pm.