After foiled bomb plots, Hong Kong anti-terror squad runs drill at mainland border
- Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit cites the ‘emergent threat of local terrorism’
- About 250 officers from different departments take part in exercise simulating a bomb plot at boundary checkpoint
Hong Kong’s anti-terror task force held a large-scale drill involving a bomb plot at the city’s border with mainland China on Friday, to boost its readiness amid what it called an “emergent threat of local terrorism”.
Police had earlier warned about the spectre of home-grown terrorism, with the force confiscating at least five guns and cracking 15 significant bomb cases in the city since anti-government protests began in June.
The Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit (ICTU), composed of officers from six disciplined services and headed by the Security Bureau, conducted an exercise code-named Catchmount at Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point at noon. About 250 officers from different departments participated in the drill.
The police force said it aimed to raise awareness of the threat of bombs at public facilities, and enhance the coordination and preparedness of departments when it comes to handling suspicious objects.
