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Bloodshed in China may raise Hong Kong terror alert level

Police chief says attacks on mainland are being closely monitored and the city's security will be reviewed after Xinjiang street market bombing

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Victims of the street market attack in Urumqi. Andy Tsang (inset) said the police force is assessing whether the current alert level needed to be raised after Thursday's bloodshed in Xinjiang. Photos: AFP, SCMP

Hong Kong will review its security threat level because of the deadly wave of terrorist attacks on the mainland, the city's police chief revealed yesterday.

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Commissioner Andy Tsang Wai-hung said the force was assessing whether the current "moderate'' alert level needed to be raised after Thursday's bloodshed in Xinjiang.

At least 43 were killed and nearly 100 injured in an attack on a street market in the capital, Urumqi, when assailants in two vehicles ploughed into shoppers and traders and threw explosives. One of the vehicles blew up.

Tsang said: "In view of what's happening in mainland China, obviously we will review what needs to be done and indeed, if additional measures are needed then they will be taken.

"We have been monitoring terrorist activities both around the world and in the region … and an increasing number of terrorist attacks in mainland China. We are watching this very closely." He added: "We have to prepare ourselves. And let me assure members of the public that all along, the Hong Kong government and the Hong Kong police have been preparing to avert such a threat."

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