Hong Kong radicals close to committing ‘acts of terrorism’, says police chief after bomb scare sees railway station evacuated
- Suspicious package found near Tai Po Market station proves to be empty shoebox wrapped with duct tape
- Senior Superintendent Steve Li expresses concern over escalating bombing campaign
Hong Kong police have said radical protesters are coming close to committing “acts of terrorism”, after a bomb scare forced the evacuation of a railway station and disrupted train services on Wednesday.
Senior Superintendent Steve Li Kwai-wah of Organised and Triad Bureau said attacks using home-made devices were part of an escalated bombing campaign, with anti-government radicals targeting police stations, public housing estates, transport facilities, control points, and hospitals, and posed a danger to the public in such crowded places.
“They usually make their demands online, but we thought their requests were fake, to vent anger unreasonably, and it was very close to acts of terrorism,” he said.
According to police, radicals posted online messages to reveal their possible targets, outlined their reasons for an attack, and looked to incite others to take action. After an attack they admitted their act on the same social media platform.
Wednesday’s incident saw Tai Po Market MTR station evacuated, and services on the East Rail line partially suspended after a suspicious package was discovered next to the tracks near the station.