Hong Kong police on alert for terror threat from lone wolves inspired by Islamic State
Anti-terrorist police say extremists may already be lurking in the city, although they have received no intelligence indicating a specific threat
Extremists inspired by the Middle East terror group calling itself Islamic State may have sneaked into Hong Kong or are already lurking in the city, putting anti-terrorist police on alert to prevent lone wolf-style attacks.
Police on Wednesday said the danger was real, but the city’s terrorism threat level remained moderate as there was no specific intelligence indicating an imminent attack or Hong Kong being targeted.
The warning came as security experts urged the authorities to raise public awareness about the threat of global terrorism so as to recruit more “eyes and ears” across the city.
The threat to Asia has come home after attacks in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan in recent months.
Superintendent Leung Wing-sheung, from the police operations wing, said terrorist groups such as Islamic State had taken full advantage of the internet and social media to spread their radical ideology, putting the city in a vulnerable position.