Glorifying attack and violence no different from inciting murder, says police chief

Those who glorified lone-wolf terrorist attack and violence were no difference from inciting murder, police commissioner Raymond Siu Chak-yee said.

Siu said a number of serious violence cases took place in Hong Kong lately including the lone-wolf terrorist attack in Causeway Bay on Thursday night where a 50-year-old man committed suicide after stabbed a police officer.

In an interview with Eastweek, The Standard's sister publication, Siu criticized those who laid flowers at the site to mourn the attacker and glorified his act, as the man was an attacker of an attempted murder and suicide case.

“This kind of behavior which glorified violence and heroized terrorist completely against ethics and morality, and is chilling,” he said.

“This is not related to political views, this is about humanity,” he added.

Siu said Hong Kong is a society that upholds the rule of law and does not tolerate any behavior advocating or inciting murder, and citizens would be harmed by incitement of hatred.

“The attack was targeted to police this time, it could be other people next time,” he said.

Siu said many lone-wolf terrorist attacks have taken place in foreign countries in the past, and hurt many innocent people.

“If people don't stand up to stop and condemn this kind of cold-blooded behavior, you or those around you could be the victims in future,” he said.

He also said it is illegal for people to incite others to conduct violent acts and murder, no matter the incitement took place online or in real life.