PHOTOS: Alleged police brutality sparks riot in Shenzhen

On the evening of 16 July, a major conflict between police and civilians occurred in the streets of Shenzhen's Bao'an district.

Reportedly, a traffic police officer forcefully confiscated a motorcycle and assaulted the driver, causing public discontent. Police quickly arrived at the scene to disperse the large crowd that had gathered, injuring many people in the process and sparking even greater resentment. Furious civilians overthrew police vehicles and caused a riot in the middle of a major thoroughfare.

Reports say that the driver was a mother of three. Some netizens quoted eyewitnesses, who claim that the motorcycle was carrying two children, thus attracting the officers' attention and inducing a fine of RMB200.

A large number of police officers were sent to the scene, waving batons to disperse the angry crowd until the early hours of the morning. Unconfirmed accounts claim that one person was beaten to death by police.

Members of the public sympathized with the motorcycle driver, protesting that they are just trying to make a living.