Rarely seen footage of Tiananmen Square massacre that was blocked from being aired

WARNING: This article contains material that some might find distressing.

Rarely seen footage of Tiananmen Square massacre that was blocked from being aired has been released.

While the events of the crisis are widely known, the incident remains a taboo topic in mainland China where it is strictly censored and controlled by the government.

Also known as the June Fourth incident, the demonstrations started in April 1989 as groups descended upon Beijing's most iconic landmark to protest corruption and economic policies while calling for social security.

On June 4, after the government declared martial law, the military used tanks and assault rifles to fire at protesters. Other students were beaten or run over.

Rare footage from inside the massacre was shared by CNN this week, which you can watch below, although be warned that it contains content that some may find distressing:

As shown in the clip, gunshots can be heard in the background as people flee the chaotic scene. Others are seen carrying injured peers while shouting for an ambulance.

"The army was told the demonstrators were a threat and that they were to clear the Square through any means," explained the outlet.

In the description of its video, posted on YouTube, CNN noted that it had been reporting on the ground in China that year.

However, the government pulled the plug on the broadcast, and so it 'reported by telephone and used video travelers snuck out of the country'.

Chinese officials have never released a definitive death toll for the horrific tragedy, but it is estimated that several hundred to several thousand people were killed, with thousands more wounded.

The incident unfolded during a time that saw the political landscape in many other countries change drastically.

Revolutions in various parts of the Eastern Bloc led to the eventual breakup of the Soviet Union and the abandonment of communist regimes.

Later that year, a poignant symbol in this movement arrived with the fall of the Berlin wall.

Many citizens of the People's Republic of China, which stopped receiving support from the Soviet Union in the 1960s, saw what was happening in other communist states.

The country itself had gone through significant changes following the death of Chairman Mao in 1976, and the end of the Cultural Revolution.

CNN

In the 1980s, a series of reforms led to Western economical ideals being introduced, significantly reducing poverty in China.

But with this came a series of social issues including corruption and nepotism, which was one of the reasons why so many students came to protest.

Another factor was the death of Hu Yaobang, who became a high-ranking official in the government, only to then be purged by Communist hardliners for his liberal views.

The demonstrators turned up to Tiananmen Square with a large banner honouring Hu's memory, describing him as 'China's Spirit'.

To this day, the events of the Tiananmen Square massacre reverberate across the globe, and despite attempts to censor the tragedy, vigils are still held honouring those who lost their lives fighting for freedom.