Hong Kong police arrest three over calls for violence on National Day
- Trio accused of posting messages online calling for people to attack officers and take part in banned protest on Thursday
- Police chief vows to crack down on lawbreakers while Beijing’s liaison office issues stern warning against taking to streets illegally
Hong Kong police have arrested two students and a delivery worker accused of inciting people to attack officers and join a banned anti-government protest on China’s National Day, as authorities brace for potential chaos.
The three individuals were arrested on suspicion of posting online messages inciting others to commit illegal activities, take part in an unlawful assembly and attack officers on the public holiday, police said on Tuesday.
Authorities began investigating after noticing the messages posted on several social media platforms, including the popular online forum LIHKG and Telegram messaging app.
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“The content of the messages included calls for some illegal activities to be carried out on October 1,” said Chief Inspector Benjamin Tai Tze-bun of the cyber security and technology crime bureau.