‘TRANSFORMERS’ DIRECTOR BAY ATTACKED IN HONG KONG

HONG KONG (AFP) Hollywood director Michael Bay has been attacked in Hong Kong while shooting the latest Transformers film in the city, suffering injuries to his face, reports said Thursday.

Police said they had arrested two men in the early hours of Thursday morning after the attack on a 48-year-old man named by local media as the “Armageddon” director, on location in the city filming “Transformers: Age of Extinction”.

The two men reportedly confronted Bay and his film crew in the city's Quarry Bay district, claiming they were owed HK$100,000 ($12,900) compensation for filming in the area.

Police have now handed the case to specialist anti-triad units reserved for tackling Hong Kong's notorious criminal gangs.

“When the movie crew was filming, one of the arrested persons was seeking HK$100,000 [from Bay], leading to a scuffle. Another arrested person suddenly attacked him,” police said in a statement.

While local media named the Hollywood director as the target of the attack, police would only confirm the victim as being a 48-year-old “Michael”.

“The right side of his face was injured, but he refused to go to the hospital,” the statement said.

The fourth installment of the Transformers franchise starring Mark Wahlberg and Nicola Peltz is scheduled to hit theatres in June.

Hong Kong's striking Victoria Harbour is believed to be among the film's locations, along with the city's dense and bustling streets.