Team members of thwarted bomb plot in Hong Kong trained with retired Taiwanese soldier, court hears
- Ringleader Wong Chun-keung tells court how he created ‘Dragon Slayer Brigade’ targeting police after series of successful attacks against officers
- Group received support from unknown woman who claimed she could raise funds from lawyers, politicians and other professionals, he says
Members of a team behind a thwarted bomb plot targeting Hong Kong police during the 2019 social unrest received military training from a retired Taiwanese soldier and funding said to be from lawyers, politicians and other professionals, one of its ringleaders has said.
The High Court on Monday heard Wong Chun-keung founded the Telegram channel “Dragon Slayer Brigade” in August 2019 after a group of “valiant” protesters became “so amped” up and encouraged by a series of successful attacks against police that they agreed to escalate their actions and make defeating the force their main goal.
“The successes had turned our heads and we got so carried away with revenge,” Wong said on his first day in the witness box. “The team had all agreed on crowdfunding [from supporters] in the name of ‘Dragon Slayer Brigade’. I was the only person in charge of crowdfunding and finance on the team.”
Wong was testifying against his alleged former teammates – Yim Man-him, Cheung Chun-fu, Cheung Ming-yu and Christian Lee Ka-tin – who were among six men who earlier pleaded not guilty to a joint count of conspiracy to plant two bombs in Wan Chai on December 8 in 2019.
Wong, along with the other mastermind Ng Chi-hung, earlier pleaded guilty to the same charge. Wong also admitted to one count of conspiracy to provide or collect property to commit terrorist acts.
He said his team received significant support from an anti-government faction, in particular financial assistance from an unknown woman, who in late August of that year told him that she had the means to crowdfund from politicians, lawyers and the media.