In this Dec, 2019 file photo, a police officer (left) wears a bomb suit during a media tour of the Hong Kong Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau (EOD) depot in Hong Kong. (PHILIP FONG / AFP)

HONG KONG — Hong Kong Police on Monday described the recent escalation of violence in the city as “worrisome” after the force seized explosives in Sai Ying Pun on Sunday night.

The warning came a day after the force said it had arrested 17 people in connection with several bomb attacks and seized 4.5 kilograms of explosives after raiding an office building in Kowloon. 

No civilized region with the rule of law can abide by some of its people using bombs to coerce the government and other people to agree with their views 

Li Kwai-wah, Senior Superintendent of HK police

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Senior Superintendent Li Kwai-wah said officers were running tests on the Sai Ying Pun haul.

“No civilized region with the rule of law can abide by some of its people using bombs to coerce the government and other people to agree with their views,” Li said, stressing that the situation is “worrisome”. 

“Bombs kill indiscriminately. Bombs cannot choose between a police officer and a child. There is no such thing as bombs targeting only the police,” said Alick Mcwhirter, senior superintendent of Explosive Ordinance Disposal Bureau.

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On Sunday, police said it had arrested 17 people – 12 men and five women aged between 21 and 53, for their alleged involvement in three bomb plots in January and February at different locations identified as Caritas Medical Centre, Shenzhen Bay check point and Lo Wu railway station. 

On Sunday, police seized three homemade bombs, along with 1.5 kg of explosives and remote-control devices in an office building in Tai Kok Tsui. Li, briefing the media the same day, said the force was tracking the source of those explosives.

Hong Kong’s largest party in the legislature – the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong – condemned localist radicals for  “plotting serial bombings and advocating terrorism” for political ends.

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The party also said that some residents and “self-proclaimed district councilors” tried to obstruct police operations by falsely triggering fire alarms during raids.