Jimmy Lai trial: ‘1,000 Hong Kong police officers to guard West Kowloon Court for next 3 months’
- Four police vehicles will be stationed at elevated section of West Kowloon Corridor, source familiar with situation says
- ‘We have to ensure there are sufficient officers to take immediate action to prevent and stop any trouble,’ insider says
Four police vehicles would also be stationed at the elevated section of the West Kowloon Corridor, dozens of metres from the complex, following a suspected airgun attack on the court building that shattered a large window during a subversion trial in February, a source with knowledge of the situation said.
Police would dispatch 300 more officers for the coming trial compared with the February deployment, he said.
Lai, 76, is facing charges of sedition and conspiracy to collude with foreign forces for allegedly calling for international sanctions against Hong Kong and central authorities and inciting public hatred in the wake of anti-government protests in 2019, sparked by a now-withdrawn extradition bill.
The founder of the now-folded Apple Daily tabloid newspaper has spent nearly three years in custody. His trial is set to begin on Monday.