Hong Kong’s national security police have arrested five people suspected of making fake bomb threats and promoting the city’s independence.
The five suspects – a 35-year-old man and four women aged 20 to 38 – were arrested on Monday, National Security Police Chief Superintendent Steve Li told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.
Police also seized several phones and computers after searching four locations, he said.
Between April 29 and May 20, police received messages advocating Taiwan independence and the repeal of Hong Kong’s national security laws via email and social media, the chief superintendent said.
“In one of the messages, they even claimed that they would trigger a bomb that he had already placed in the Central Government Offices in Hong Kong, ” Li said in Cantonese.
“On May 13, the person became agitated and called 999, claiming that he had placed bombs in Kai Tak Sports Park, where a concert was going to be held later that day. He said he would trigger the bombs and promote the idea of Hong Kong independence and Taiwan independence.”
Taiwanese band Mayday held a concert at Kai Tak Sports Park on May 13.
Police found nothing suspicious after searching the venue that day, and the concert was not affected, Li told reporters.
He said that police believed the male suspect used voice-altering software to make the call via his mobile phone on May 13 in Hung Hom.
“He then threw the mobile phone into the sea in Hung Hom,” Li said. “Since the mobile phone is an important piece of evidence in the case, we have arranged for frogmen to search for the phone in the sea.”
With no bombs having been found, the police are investigating the suspects’ motives and political stances.
Asked by a reporter why police disclosed the case weeks after it happened and whether the timing of the press conference was linked to June 4 – the 1989 Tiananmen crackdown anniversary, Li said the police briefing was held on Tuesday because the arrests were made on Monday.
The Tiananmen crackdown occurred on June 4, 1989, ending months of student-led demonstrations in China. It is estimated that hundreds, perhaps thousands, died when the People’s Liberation Army cracked down on protesters in Beijing.
