Source:
https://scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3080704/home-made-bomb-delivered-hong-kong-police-chiefs
Hong Kong/ Law and Crime

Home-made bomb delivered to Hong Kong police chief’s office in envelope, though no injuries or evacuation required

  • The battery-powered device, which began to smoke when staff opened the envelope at noon, was sent without an attached message
  • Police are investigating to determine if there are any ties to letters containing white powder sent to police and media earlier this month
A battery-powered home-made bomb was delivered in an envelope to police chief Chris Tang on Monday at the force’s Wan Chai headquarters. Photo: Nora Tam

Hong Kong’s police chief received an improvised explosive device at his headquarters on Monday, though no one was injured and evacuation was deemed unnecessary.

At an afternoon press briefing, police said the attack represented an “open challenge” and warned against home-grown terrorism, saying the device was similar to ones used by overseas terror groups.

The home-made bomb was packed inside an envelope addressed to Commissioner of Police Chris Tang Ping-keung and sent to his office in Wan Chai, according to the force. It was comprised of batteries and already beginning to smoke when staff attempted to open the envelope at 10.20am.

As the staff could also smell what they believed to be flammable liquid, the bomb squad was called to the scene.

Commissioner of Police Chris Tang was last seen publicly when he commented on the mass arrest of opposition lawmakers and activists on Saturday. Photo: Winson Wong
Commissioner of Police Chris Tang was last seen publicly when he commented on the mass arrest of opposition lawmakers and activists on Saturday. Photo: Winson Wong

Superintendent Alick McWhirter of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit said the device was partially functional and a bit different from other bombs seized by police recently as it was “victim operated” – designed to detonate by whoever opened the parcel.

“They are in very close proximity to the package. They are standing one to two feet away. They are holding the package in their hands. That means a device like this is targeting the person’s eyes, face, hands. It is looking to cause injuries to the victim,” the bomb squad chief said.

“This type of device, postal home-made bombs, have been commonly used by terrorists around the world over the past few decades. Sadly, today is yet another indication that in Hong Kong, we are still dealing with home-grown terrorism.”

Senior superintendent Ng Wing-sze, of Hong Kong Island’s regional crime squad, said whoever had sent the bomb did so “apparently intending to hurt the recipients”, adding the offence carried a sentence of life in prison.

“Bombs are generally not stable and could explode during transportation, injuring innocent people. We condemn such an irresponsible act that undermines the safety of others and openly challenges the law enforcement agencies,” Ng said.

No arrests have been made so far, and sources said no message was found with the package.

Tang last made a public appearance on Saturday night, when he commented on the mass arrest of opposition lawmakers and activists at a press briefing after visiting officers who were inspecting bars and eateries for violations of new social-distancing rules.

Earlier this month, letters containing white powder of an unknown nature were sent to the police sports and recreation club in Prince Edward and also to police headquarters, with the latter accompanied by an intimidating message.

The letters prompted an investigation into possible links to a case a day earlier when a local media outlet also received white powder through the mail.

When asked if the home-made bomb discovered on Monday could be linked to the cases, the insider said more investigation was needed.

It is not the first time this year that Hong Kong police have dealt with improvised explosive devices.

In January, a palm-sized device was discovered in a rubbish bin at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point, just 12 hours after a Hong Kong public toilet in West Kowloon was set ablaze by a suspected home-made bomb.

A message on the Telegram messaging app, widely used by the anti-government protest movement, said the Shenzhen discovery was “only the start” and demanded full closure of the border amid growing worries about the coronavirus.

Police have arrested at least 17 people alleged to be involved with the bomb plots.