A bomb disposal officer operates a bomb disposal robot during a counterterrorism exercise conducted by Hong Kong's Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit at Lok Ma Chau Spur Line control point in Hong Kong, March 20, 2020. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
More than 250 officers from the police force, fire services department, customs and immigration on Friday morning took part in a counterterrorism drill that simulated a bomb attack.
The exercise comes amid heightening concerns about homegrown terrorism after the recent seizures of homemade bombs and explosives commonly used by terrorists in other regions.
The exercise comes amid heightening concerns about homegrown terrorism after the recent seizures of homemade bombs and explosives commonly used by terrorists in other regions
Police had earlier investigated at least four bomb plots in two weeks between January and early February, including one at Shenzhen Bay checkpoint and one at Lo Wu railway station close to border.
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Briefing the media before the drill, Police Senior Superintendent Chu Man-lung said there were several recent cases in which homemade bombs were found at crowded public places. They could cause extensive damages to people and properties if they were detonated.
Chu urged Hong Kong residents to stay vigilant of extreme violent behaviors that are close to terrorist attacks commonly seen in some other regions.
The exercise in Lok Ma Chau simulated an operation against extremists who mounted a bomb attack at a boundary control point using improvised explosive devices.
In the drill, a man detonated a radio-controlled bomb hidden in a trash bin, causing multiple casualties. The area was then cordoned off for rescue and investigation by law enforcement officers.
Following the bomb detonation, officers in the drill discovered another suspicious object at the departure hall where all people were immediately evacuated before bomb disposal officers arrived to neutralize the threat.
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Police Commissioner Tang Ping-keung had earlier said that police, together with the Department of Justice, have been studying to see whether to prosecute bomb attackers by the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Ordinance. It would be the first such prosecution under the ordinance in Hong Kong since it was introduced in 2002.
According to the ordinance, terrorism includes six kinds of actions. Among them are extremist actions that aim to intimidate and coerce the SAR government and public figures to accept their political agenda.
Separately, police expressed regrets over “unfounded” accusations against the force made by two district councilors of the Central and Western District Council.
The force said the councilors pay no regard to the fact police officers were severely injured by radical protesters. Instead, they believed in “fake news”, and built their accusations upon it, police said.
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In a meeting of the council on Thursday, a police representative was told to “shut up” by chairwoman of the council Cheng Lai-king when she tried to clarify allegations from opposition district councilors Kam Nai-wai and Yip Kam-lung.
Police appealed to them to respect their duties to handle community issues in a fair and mutually respectful manner.
