Hong Kong police arrest 2 on suspicion of inciting others to attack government officials ahead of Legislative Council election
- Suspects, aged 22 and 34, accused of posting messages online urging others to attack or murder police and government personnel, damage polling stations and not vote in Sunday’s poll
- Imitation firearm, tactical helmet and gas mask among items seized during operation
Hong Kong police have arrested two men on suspicion of inciting others to use violence against government officials ahead of Sunday’s Legislative Council election.
The pair are accused of posting messages online to instigate others to attack or murder police and government personnel. They also allegedly advocated the use of violence, setting fires in public places and attacking polling stations, according to Superintendent Wilson Tam Wai-shun of the force’s cybersecurity and technology crime bureau.
Tam said the duo, who did not seem to have any personal connections, also called for others not to vote in Sunday’s election or to cast blank ballots and invited people to march on the streets in the coming festive period.
The suspects, a 22-year-old part-time courier and 34-year-old IT worker, were arrested in Wan Chai and Hung Hom respectively over the past two days for offences including incitement to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, incitement to arson and inciting others to take part in unauthorised assembly.
Police seized an imitation firearm, a tactical helmet, tactical vest and gas mask from the younger man’s flat. Three mobile phones and two computers were also confiscated.
The men were detained for inquiries and no charges had been laid. Police said the operation was ongoing and further arrests were possible.
Tam said offensive messages were posted on various social media platforms and that the 22-year-old was an administrator of an online forum with 2,000 members.
