Hong Kong Police Nab Five Accused Of Conspiring To Bomb Public Facilities

Hong Kong police arrested 5 people believed to be participate in a plot to bomb. National security police officials on Tuesday said they had detained four men and one woman on suspicion of “conspiring to plan terrorist activities.”

Arrests made under recent imposition national security law – the legislation is part of China’s attempt to address months of often violent protests in the former British colony. Officials said they have reason to believe those arrested were involved in a possible bombing plot.

Police said the investigation into the incident is continuing and they are likely to make further arrests in connection with the case. Police said they arrested nine people on July 6, including six high school students, who were involved in the alleged bombing plot. Officials said the group was planning to use explosives to destroy vehicles, including train stations and tunnels.

Senior director Li Kwai-wah said the nine arrested were identified as members of a pro-democracy group called Return Valiant. Police said they found the chemical in a makeshift laboratory inside a hotel in the city. Police say the chemicals could be used to produce triacetone triperoxide – or TATP – an explosive used by terrorists in Europe and other countries.

“[The group] want to attack a number of public facilities in Hong Kong, including the Trans-Port Tunnel, railway, courtroom, and they even want to put bombs in trash cans on the street, in order to minimize the damage caused to society “. Li said.

Authorities said they had frozen the assets of all those arrested. Six of the nine have been released on bail since then, while the remaining three are due to appear in court in September.

Tensions in Hong Kong continue to rise as China tightens its crackdown on political speech. Last month, a worker stabbed a police officer on patrol at a busy shopping mall before taking his own life. Those who expressed their support for the man were quickly shut down by authorities, warning the public not to “deliberately romanticize or glorify despicable acts”.

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