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Hong Kong (CNN) - High-profile pro-democratic leaders were arrested on Friday in Hong Kong, in an apparent raid of activists before what will be the thirteenth consecutive weekend of mass protests in the Asian financial center.
Joshua Wong, who led the mass protests in favor of democracy in 2014, and fellow activist Agnes Chow were arrested Friday morning, the pro-democratic group Demosisto said.
Anti-government activist Andy Chan, not affiliated with Demosisto, was arrested at the Hong Kong International Airport on Thursday night, according to police.
- Chronology of Hong Kong protests: the evolution of a movement
From left to right: Joshua Wong, Agnes Chow and Andy Chan.
Police confirmed Wong and Chow's arrests and said they are currently under investigation.
His arrests could further raise tensions in the city before the anti-government protests planned for this weekend.
On Friday, the organizer of the mass rally scheduled for Saturday, the Civil Human Rights Front (CHRF), announced that it would cancel the march after not obtaining permission from the police.
"Our first principle is always to protect all participants and ensure that no one faces legal consequences for participating in the protest we organize," said CHRF Vice President Bonnie Leung.
Wong, 22, was arrested for “inciting others to participate in an illegal assembly,” “organizing an unauthorized assembly,” and “deliberately participating in an unauthorized assembly,” according to police.
Demosisto tweeted on Friday that Wong was "forced into a private van on the street in broad daylight" near a subway station, in a southern district of Hong Kong Island, around 7:30 am , local time.
Chow, also 22 years old and a former Demosist Legislative Council candidate, was arrested on suspicion of "inciting others to participate in illegal assemblies" and "deliberately participating in unauthorized assemblies."
Police said Chan was charged under "suspected rioting" and "assaulting a police officer."
Founder of the illegal National Party of Hong Kong, Chan was one of eight arrested in early August for possession of weapons and suspicious materials to make bombs.
Hong Kong