HK police arrest two people over Fan Ling explosives case

Hong Kong police said they arrested two men in Fan Ling yesterday for conspiracy to manufacture explosives for use, with about 23.5 kilograms of substances used in the manufacture of explosives, such as potassium nitrate, sulfur and firecracker.

Police have confirmed that they received intelligence about a conspiracy to detonate explosives in crowded areas before the Lunar New Year holidays, with the two suspects supplying the explosive substances.

A police spokesman said the huge cache of chemicals and other related items seized were highly explosive and could endanger public safety, also adding that the case was protest-related.

Officers from the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau rounded up a 42-year-old man outside Block 6 of Wing Fok Center on Luen Chit Street in Fan Ling at around 2pm yesterday, where he was found to be carrying a suitcase with chemicals and electronic devices.

At around 6pm, officers brought the suspect, whose head was covered with a black paper bag and handcuffed from behind, to a unit in Block 6 of Wing Fok Center to assist in the police inquiry.

Bows and arrows, expandable batons along with political flyers were seized from the unit. The owner of the unit, aged 62 years, was also arrested.

The police spokesman said initial investigations showed that the two suspects were involved in the social unrest in the past two years.

When asked if the national security department will take over with the investigation, the spokesman said although political flyers were seized on the scene, the case is currently handled by the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau.