Three injured after knifeman attempted to assault Kowloon City court magistrate

A man wielding a knife in the Kowloon City Magistrates' Courts was subdued after he attempted to assault Magistrate Edward Wong Ching-yu in the courtroom on Monday.

Three police officers were injured in the incident, with one being hurt to his arm and two suffered scratches and sprains.

It was learned that the 32-year-old knifeman, surnamed Lee, was convicted by Wong over an indecent assault case in 2020.

The incident happened at around 10.15 am on Monday. Lee managed to get into the public gallery in the courtroom with four knives -- with the longest one measuring 46 cm in length -- in his backpack and suddenly pulled one and attempted to knife Wong.

Wong successfully dodged the attack, and three police officers subdued Lee.

The police later found a total of four knives, two lighters, two torch lighters, a box of matches, four bottles of chemical solutions as well as two bottles of powders on Lee.

Police said Lee, with a history of mental illness, was also found to have the judgments of the court over his indecent assault case in his backpack as well as some documents which had written his discontent about the judgment.

In response to the incident, the Department of Justice said it would not tolerate any illegal or violent acts. It appeals to the public to respect the rule of law and stresses that the Government will not condone any acts of sabotage against the Judiciary or damage to the rule of law.

(Updated at 5.52 pm)

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