Two arrests after escalator suddenly went into reverse at mall in Hong Kong leaving 18 injured

Two men have been arrested after a packed escalator suddenly jolted into reverse, leaving at least 18 people injured.

The horrifying moment was captured on film in shocking scenes at Langham Place mall in Hong Kong.

One of those hurt is in a serious condition in hospital with a head injury, authorities said.

Video showed the escalator, one of Hong Kong’s largest, suddenly changing direction and appearing to speed up on Saturday afternoon.

The footage showed people tumbling down into one another, leaving some of them piled up at the bottom.

One witness sold the South China Morning Post: “I heard people screaming ... the escalator was going down but the speed accelerated.

“People started to panic ... and some fell down.”

Engineer Charles Wong told the paper that the escalator’s auxiliary brakes should have started up once the main brakes failed.

The huge escalator links the fourth and eighth floors of the popular mall.