2019 Yuen Long attack
| 2019 Yuen Long attack | |
|---|---|
| Part of the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests | |
Top left: Armed men dressed in white attacking passengers on the platform of Yuen Long station Top right: Mobsters in Nam Pin Wai Village Bottom: Riot police next to a group of men in white T-shirt, each with a stick, one raised his to intimidate reporters | |
Location in Hong Kong | |
| Native name | 7·21 元朗襲擊 |
| Location | Yuen Long, New Territories, Hong Kong |
| Coordinates | 22°26′46″N 114°2′8″E / 22.44611°N 114.03556°E |
| Date | 21 July 2019 20:30 – 04:30 (HKT, UTC+08:00) |
| Target | Anti-extradition bill protesters returning from a demonstration on the same day |
Attack type | Congregation of people leading to confrontations, violent acts and assault cases (by official) |
| Weapons | Wooden sticks, handles, poles, rattan canes, steel rods, metal tubes, knife, iron pass |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | At least 45 people (1 critical and 5 in serious condition) |
| Victims |
|
| Assailants | 600-700 (at peak) white-shirted men with triad background |
| 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests |
|---|
|
| 2019 Yuen Long attack | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Traditional Chinese | 2019年元朗襲擊事件 | ||
| Simplified Chinese | 2019年元朗袭击事件 | ||
| |||
| Alternative name | |||
| Traditional Chinese | 721事件 | ||
| |||
| Alternative name（3） | |||
| Traditional Chinese | 元朗暴力事件 | ||
| |||
| Alternative name（4） | |||
| Traditional Chinese | 721西鐵元朗站事件 | ||
| Simplified Chinese | 721西铁元朗站事件 | ||
| |||
| Alternative name（5） | |||
| Traditional Chinese | 元朗黑夜 | ||
| |||
The 2019 Yuen Long attack, also known as the 721 incident, refers to a mob attack that occurred in Yuen Long, a town in the New Territories of Hong Kong, on the evening of 21 July 2019. It took place in the context of the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests. A mob dressed in white stormed the MTR's Yuen Long station and attacked protesters returning from a demonstration in Sheung Wan on Hong Kong Island as well as bystanders.
Despite over 24,000 calls to the 999 emergency hotline, the police arrived 39 minutes after the attacks and one minute after the mobs had left the station. Around 30 non-police tactical unit trained police officers were assigned to standby at Tuen Mun Police Station for contingency. At least 45 people were injured in the incident.
The government condemned the violence. There was widespread criticism of the police for its poor response to the incident and disputed narrative of the events. As of September 2022, eight assailants have been convicted. Attacked passengers and protestors were later charged with riot as well, with at least one found guilty. As of April 2025, 21 people have been convicted for rioting over the attack, 13 of whom belonged to the white-clad group and the remaining eight being other people at the scene; seven of the latter have appealed their convictions and sentences.