Three arrested over Hong Kong’s ‘largest-ever’ bomb plot on eve of major anti-government protest
- Pro-independence materials also among items seized in Tsuen Wan, where 27-year-old man is arrested
- Two men, both 25, arrested on Saturday night, one in Tsuen Wan and the other in Sheung Shui
Hong
Kong police have detained three men after seizing what is being billed
as the largest amount of the deadliest explosives ever uncovered in the
city, along with pro-independence materials, from a home-made laboratory
in a Tsuen Wan industrial building on the eve of another major
anti-government march.
Controlled
explosions were conducted on site at the Lung Shing Factory Building on
Texaco Road on Saturday as the police bomb squad disposed of some of
the extremely powerful and highly unstable explosives.
Senior
superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah of the Organised Crime and Triad
Bureau said investigators were looking into the background of a
27-year-old man who was arrested in connection with the case to
determine if it was related to the mass protest planned for Sunday,
which has already sparked concerns about potential chaos because of a
dispute over the route and duration of the march.
Two
men, both aged 25, were also arrested on Saturday night in connection
with the find, one in Tsuen Wan and the other in Sheung Shui.
Some of the items seized at the site. Photo: Felix Wong
Superintendent
Alick McWhirter of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit said: “I think,
without a doubt, this is the largest seizure we have ever come across
in Hong Kong.”
Referring
to triacetone triperoxide, also known as TATP, an explosive substance
among the materials seized, he added: “It is well known, unstable and
dangerous.”
The
drama began at 10:30pm on Friday night when officers, acting on
intelligence received, raided the building and found 2kg of powerful
explosives, 10 petrol bombs and acidic substances being manufactured in
the home-made lab, along with knives and metal rods.
Petrol bombs, knives and rods were among items seized. Photo: Felix Wong
McWhirter
said his squad handled about 1kg of TATP on Saturday morning and were
still working on another kilogram of the explosives – the detonation and
disposal process was expected to take some time.
He said TATP was highly unstable and powerful, with the potential to cause exceptional damage.
“There
are multiple problems because we are dealing with the explosive in
different stages of its manufacture … from ice-cold conditions to room
temperature,” McWhirter said.
“The
nature of this explosive means that … over a number of hours, its
sensitivity can change, making it a constant challenge for my officers
to adapt.”
All explosives had been safely handled by 9pm on Saturday.
Over a number of hours, its sensitivity can change, making it a constant challenge for my officers to adapt
TATP
has been used in deadly terrorist attacks around the world, including
in Israel and the London bombings of July 7, 2005, in which 52 people
were killed and more than 700 injured. A small amount of TATP is
powerful enough to blow a car to bits, and it can be treacherous for
handlers as well because of its instability.
Firefighters on standby at the industrial building. Photo: Felix Wong
Items
seized at the site on Saturday included a T-shirt with the logo of the
Hong Kong National Front, a pro-independence group, leaflets saying “no
extradition to China”, and a pamphlet on the June 9 protest march that
drew historic numbers out onto the streets.
Police
also seized several sets of portable loudspeakers, gas masks, goggles,
hard hats and catapults, along with at least one can of kerosene.
Disqualified
lawmaker Sixtus Baggio Leung Chung-hang, the spokesman of the Hong Kong
National Front, was unavailable for comment by publishing time.
His
group issued a statement through its Telegram messaging app channel,
acknowledging that the man arrested was a member, but denying any
knowledge of the explosives.
The group said the industrial unit was used to store acoustic equipment and other promotional materials.
Senior superintendent Li said the unit had been rented out for several months and the police would not rule out more arrests.
He
condemned those behind the explosives lab for being irresponsible and
posing a danger to society. They could face jail terms of up to 20 years
under the law.
Officers seen in the building. Photo: TVB News
Firefighters
were called in early on Saturday morning and people were evacuated from
the factory building as police cordoned off the scene for bomb experts
to carry out controlled detonations.
Six fire engines and two ambulances were sent to the scene.
The
case raised tensions in the middle of a weekend of ongoing and planned
protests against the government’s now-suspended extradition bill, even
as police ramped up security measures over fears of continued violence.
In
December 2017, three alleged members of a pro-independence party in
Hong Kong were jailed for up to 46 months for making or possessing
materials, including TATP, that could be used to produce explosives at
the former ATV film studios in Ho Chung, Sai Kung.
The case was uncovered shortly before the city’s legislature was to vote on a controversial electoral reform bill in 2015.
They
were suspected to be from the National Independent Party, which sought
to make smoke bombs to sabotage the vote, according to a recorded police
interview with one of the defendants that was played in court.
Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3019429/bomb-disposal-squad-called-after-explosive-substance
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