HK leader condemns London protester 'attack' on minister

Hong Kong: Hong Kong's leader Carrie Lam on Thursday condemned a "barbaric attack" on her justice minister, who fell while being surrounded by a crowd of jeering pro-democracy protesters in London.

It was the most physical confrontation involving a member of Lam's cabinet since the protests, now in their sixth month, erupted in the international finance hub.

Teresa Cheng, Hong Kong's deeply unpopular Secretary for Justice, was ambushed by around a dozen masked demonstrators as she prepared to attend a speaking event on Thursday night in London.

They shone torch lights on her while calling her a "murderer" and shouting slogans of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protest movement. Video of the incident showed Cheng falling to the floor during the melee -- although it was not immediately clear if she was pushed by protesters.