Thousands gathered in a northern town of Hong Kong defying a police ban to protest against the attack on pro-democracy activists by a group of masked men at a train station last week. Police had denied permission for Saturday's rally fearing violence. The police have been accused of failing to protect protesters from the attack last Sunday and also of colluding with the attackers. Protests and demonstrations have been going on in Hong Kong for several weeks after the govt introduced a law that allows suspects to be extradited to China for trials.