Bomb plot against Hong Kong police hatched 3 weeks before planned attack: prosecution

A foiled plan to kill Hong Kong police with explosives during the 2019 social unrest was all but disclosed by suspected bombers in messages sent three weeks before the planned attack, the prosecution has told the High Court.

Juliana Chow Hoi-ling, resuming her closing argument against alleged members of the “Dragon Slaying Brigade” on Thursday, asked the trial’s nine jurors to determine defendants’ knowledge of the conspiracy by analysing their use of code words for guns and explosives in a Telegram group chat.

Six men have denied their involvement in the plot to plant two bombs in Wan Chai on December 8, 2019. The seventh defendant, Lau Pui-ying, also pleaded not guilty to a charge alleging she had helped the group arrange crowdfunding from supporters.

Chow said the conspiracy was hatched on November 18 that year, when Wong Chun-keung – brigade leader turned prosecution witness – and the plot mastermind Ng Chi-hung had met to discuss the roles of their teams.

She pointed out that Wong had sent a message to members on the Telegram group chat, saying he wanted to “talk to you all about a new plan” right after his meeting with Ng.

This strongly suggested Wong must have informed them that Ng was serious about the importation of real guns and the making of bombs, Chow argued.