VIDEO: Protests Erupt in Chinese Cities

Widespread clashes are taking place between police and protesters in cities across China. Protests against COVID-19 restrictions are intensifying, according to SHOT.

Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Urumqi, Nanjing, Chongqing, and Chengdu are all scenes of unrest.

One of the triggers for the mass protests was a fire that broke out in a residential building in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, on November 24. Residents of the building were in quarantine due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Ten people lost their lives, and another nine were injured.

Chinese social media reports indicate that residents were unable to exit their apartments quickly due to lockdown restrictions, while firefighters took a considerable amount of time to reach the scene.