Unemployed 31-year-old man arrested for threatening to bomb Admiralty MTR online

A 31-year-old unemployed man was arrested Friday on suspicion of a bomb hoax and possession of imitation firearms and ammunition, after threatening to plant a bomb at Admiralty MTR station on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Police received an online tip-off on January 27 from a member of the public, who discovered a player in a gaming group claiming to plant a bomb at Admiralty MTR station on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Police immediately deployed a large number of personnel, including a patrol subunit, emergency unit and a counter terrorism unit to conduct a large-scale search of Admiralty MTR Station and the surrounding area. No suspicious items were found.

Authorities successfully identified the suspect through online intelligence analysis. The Central District Crime Squad arrested the man in Sha Tin after investigation. 

Two replica rifles, one replica pistol, and replica firearm parts, including magazines, barrels, stocks, gas canisters, and plastic bullets were seized from his residence. 

The arrested unemployed local man, a war game enthusiast and online gaming addict, acted alone without accomplices.

Police emphasized that the internet is not a lawless domain, and that most of Hong Kong's laws governing the real world also apply to the online world.

Police reminded the public that bomb hoaxes and possession of imitation firearms are  serious crimes, punishable by up to five years and three years of imprisonment respectively upon conviction.