Hong Kong police chief Stephen Lo condemns twin arson attacks, vowing no tolerance and full investigation into motive
- Firebombings not linked to Sunday’s extradition protest, source says
- Exact motive of triad-linked suspects remains unknown
Zero tolerance will be shown to those responsible for two petrol bomb attacks outside police stations, Hong Kong’s police chief said a day after the twin firebombings shocked the city.
Commissioner of Police Stephen Lo Wai-chung on Saturday strongly condemned the attacks, stressing that arson was a serious crime that carried a maximum penalty of life in prison.
“No matter what agenda these people have, I absolutely will not tolerate such violent acts and will investigate with the full force of the police and will follow through with it,” Lo said.
He said officers were still investigating the motive for the arson attacks.
Four men were arrested on Friday over the attacks, with one of the group suspected of throwing firebombs near police headquarters in Wan Chai on early Friday morning and, about 12 hours later, at the Happy Valley police station, according to the police insider.
“[The attacks] had nothing to do with tomorrow’s rally,” the source said on Saturday.
Ryan Wong Wai, chief superintendent of the Organised Crime and Triad Bureau, said one suspect bought petrol at a filling station and bottles of beer at convenience stores before the attacks, as seen in CCTV footage.
He said the same brand of beer was found at the sites of both attacks.
He believed the suspected attacker would be charged and the other three men would be allowed free on bail, pending the investigation.
The Civil Human Rights Front – organiser of the protest on Sunday – raised concerns that the firebombings would intimidate potential demonstrators and affect the turnout for the rally.
Jimmy Sham Tsz-kit, convenor of the front, also said there was no evidence the two attacks were related to the protest.
Still, Sham said the group would prepare for the worst, including requesting that paramedics from the Red Cross and St John Ambulance Brigade be at the scene in case of emergencies.
Organisers said there would also be more than 200 volunteers along the route of the march to ensure public safety.
Lo, the police chief, appealed to all demonstrators to abide by the law and keep the peace.
“If they see any suspicious people or illegal activities, I urge them to report to us right away,” he said.
The proposed bill would allow the transfer of fugitives on a case-by-case basis to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong lacks an extradition agreement, notably mainland China.
Security was stepped up on Saturday outside the Legislative Council in Admiralty where the rally will end – with barriers and sandbags now placed outside.
The four arrested men, aged 22 to 60, remained in police custody on Saturday.
At noon, police brought one of the suspects – who was believed to have thrown the petrol bombs – to the vehicle impound centre at Quarry Bay where a black Mercedes-Benz thought to have been used in the attacks was held.
Police said the man had driven the car, which was seen at the scene of both arson attacks.
The suspect was said to have a previous arson arrest and a triad background.
The black Mercedes was intercepted near King’s Road in North Point hours after the second petrol bombing in Happy Valley on Friday. Police said the suspect got out of the car and ran into a nearby building, where he was caught hiding on the 12th floor.
The others were arrested after 6pm near a North Point residence listed on the vehicle’s registration.
Police said the four were believed to be friends and that their individual roles and motivation were being investigated.
