Hong Kong police decry ‘chaos’ created by anti-government protests as 12 arrested amid coronavirus outbreak
- Six students were among the group, some of whom were found to be carrying gas masks, anti-government banners, and first aid vests in their backpacks
- Police are investigating if they were involved in the blocking of a road near the Kwai Luen housing estate in Kwai Chung
Officers were called to the area outside Kwai Luen Estate in Kwai Chung at about 10.15pm in response to a call saying a group of people were gathering and shouting.
The 10 men and two women, aged from 14 to 28, were arrested about 400 metres away from an area where anti-government protesters had set up road barricades half an hour earlier.
Reflective safety vests with labels reading “first aid”, communication devices, posters printed with political demands and slogans, gloves, helmets and gas masks were confiscated from the group, police said.
Speaking on Wednesday, Superintendent Iu Wing-kan, assistant Kwai Tsing district commander, said police were investigating whether the 12 suspects were linked to the illegal road blockage and if they had falsely identified themselves as first aid workers.
“Initial investigation showed the arrested suspects did not have any qualification to administer first aid,” he said.