Conflicting reports have surfaced regarding a mass protest in Sanyuanli, Guangzhou on June 8 that backed up traffic for hours.

Dawang Network News reports that several hundred residents gathered at Sanyuanli Boulevard near Tangxi Road in Baiyun District yesterday at 3pm. Law enforcement officers were also at the scene.

According to a Mr Zhou, police were conducting fire prevention inspections at a row of rented warehouses nearby when they began to forcibly remove people and their belongings from the area by prying open doors. People then protested by standing in the middle of the street.

Eyewitness Mr Feng stated that several physical confrontations occurred between the protesters and the police, but he was unsure if there were any injuries, Dawang Network News reports.

In a post on its official Weibo account, Guangzhou police said they ”properly dealt with a congregation of people” when hundreds of residents opposed law enforcement officials. Guangzhou police say the incident began at 4pm when a government department was preparing to renovate the area near Xianggang Street. The officials were met by a throng of people who obstructed them, blocking traffic.

The Guangzhou police statement does not say if any injuries occurred during this incident.

As reported by ABC News, Guangzhou police have been implementing a crackdown on the “five small places” that include small bathhouses, small cyber cafes, small inns, small Karaoke bars and small beauty salons, all places associated with prostitution.

Daily News reports that Dekang Road was closed by police, and that traffic on Sanyuanli Boulevard and Airport Road was blocked.

All sides agree that the crowd dispersed at 8pm, and that traffic resumed normal at that time.

These are photos published on ynet that show hundreds of protestors blocking a street during the day:

These photos published by News Today show police with riot shields at the scene as well as overturned vehicles:

These photos posted to Weibo by a netizen show the crowds, and includes images of overturned police cars and fires being set:

Photos: msn.ynet, News Today via Weibo, Weibo