Four entrances to the busy Central MTR station were closed yesterday for 45 minutes after a man clashed with passengers and railway staff, causing officers from bomb disposal and counter-terror units to be called.
The Pakistani man, 37, a Hong Kong resident who speaks Cantonese, had a mobile phone taped to his forearm, with wires apparently attached to it. He was arrested after confronting an MTR driver in the cabin of a Tsuen Wan-bound train.
He had earlier become upset during a dispute with passengers about 1.40pm. Police said no explosives were found and the exits were re-opened at 3.20pm. The man was arrested for carrying offensive weapons - a paper cutter and pair of scissors.
A police officer said the man had become involved in a dispute with other passengers on the train. The passengers called police.
He then managed to enter the train's front compartment and got into an argument with the driver.
When the man ignored the driver's demand to leave, the driver called his colleagues and police.
The man was forced out of the driver's cabin by officers and taken to the police post in the station.