Dozens of Hong Kong pro-democracy figures arrested in sweeping crackdown

Campaigners and politicians held in wave of arrests under the national security law

• Who are the pro-democracy activists being targeted?

More than 50 people, including pro-democracy politicians and campaigners, have been arrested in early-morning raids across Hong Kong in an unprecedented crackdown by authorities that was condemned as a despicable" assault on freedom.

In a police operation involving more than 1,000 officers, the 53 individuals were detained under the national security law (NSL), accused of subverting state power" by holding primaries for pro-democracy candidates for the Hong Kong election. The election was ultimately delayed by Lam for a year, purportedly because of the pandemic.