Hong Kong police foil second bomb plot in under a week and arrest three men allegedly testing explosive devices and chemicals
- Remote-controlled devices were intended for use at mass protests but it was unclear which chemicals or explosives were involved, police said
- Officers also seized radio-controlled detonation device and protective gear after ambushing three suspects in Tuen Mun
Hong Kong police on Saturday said they had foiled a second bomb plot in under a week related to the ongoing anti-government protests after officers arrested three men allegedly testing home-made devices and chemicals in a secluded area.
The suspects were testing the strength of remote-controlled devices, which were intended for use at mass protests, police said, but it was unclear which chemicals or explosives were involved as the bombs had been detonated.
Acting on intelligence, officers from the organised crime and triad bureau ambushed the trio in scrubland off Siu Lang Shui Road in Tuen Mun in the early hours as they carried out tests.
According to a source, police were seeking legal advice on whether the “joint enterprise” principle, which allows for accomplices of the person who strikes the fatal blow in a murder to be convicted of the same crime, could apply. CCTV and online clips did not show the five throwing bricks directly at the man, but some did throw bricks and wound others, the source said.