Water cannon trucks to be used to quell riots

Reaching quite a distance: One of the trucks demonstrating the powerful jets of water during the unveiling of the vehicles at the Police Tactical Unit compound in Hong Kong. — AFP

Hong Kong: The Hong Kong police unveiled water cannon trucks as a new way to combat pro-democracy protesters, after tear gas and rubber bullets failed to stop more than two months of rallies.

The brand-new vehicles, complete with real-time surveillance cameras and multiple spray nozzles, were wheeled out yesterday after police clashed with demonstrators at nearly a dozen locations on Sunday.