Hong Kong teen who confessed to tossing petrol bombs over anger at government handling of protests gets 18 months’ probation
- The 15-year-old student hurled the firebombs down an empty Fung Cheung Road in Yuen Long in early January
- Tuen Mun Court also heard the case of a teen girl who was in September found with materials for producing petrol bombs on her
Tuen Mun Court heard the Form Three pupil hurled two firebombs on Fung Cheung Road in Yuen Long during the early hours of January 8 to express discontent with the government, which he felt had snubbed protesters’ demands during the months of social unrest.
The attack left a burn mark on the road, but no one was injured.
The boy was arrested in the vicinity after a passer-by reported the incident. Police found a lighter and other items used in the preparation of petrol bombs in his possession.
Earlier this month, the teenager pleaded guilty to one count each of arson and possessing items with intent to damage property before magistrate Kelly Shui.
On Tuesday, defence lawyers said the boy felt helpless in the face of current societal circumstances, and wrongly believed he could only get the government’s attention by resorting to violent means.
They described the boy as a teenager who aspired to serve the community as a district councillor in the future, but was hindered by immaturity and lack of respect for the law.
