12-year-old boy arrested over alleged attempt to make explosives, videos shared online

A 12-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly attempting to manufacture explosives and is currently being held for questioning, police said on Tuesday. The arrest followed a public tip-off about videos posted on social media.

The case unfolded after police received a report yesterday about clips showing a chemical experiment. In the videos, the individual claimed to be making a bomb and implied that the explosive had already been successfully created. 

Following an investigation, officers from the East Kowloon Regional Crime Unit arrested the Form One student in Tseung Kwan O later that day on suspicion of attempting to manufacture explosives. 

The Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit is also involved in the case.

At a press briefing, acting chief inspector Choi Ting-kwong stated that the boy’s motive, the raw materials he used, and whether any other individuals were involved are all key lines of the ongoing investigation.

He emphasized that attempting to create such substances is a very serious crime, regardless of the resulting explosive power.

Police displayed screenshots from the video, revealing that the experiment took place under a bridge, directly beside a public sitting-out area. 

"Fortunately, the incident did not cause any casualties or property damage," Choi said. "If the experiment had gone out of control, the consequences would have been unimaginable."

Separately, the police spokesman also noted a worrying global trend of self-radicalization among young people. 

He warned that youths from any place or background can be influenced by extremist ideologies, which can lead to acts of terrorism or violence.

He urged the public to seek professional help or report to the authorities without hesitation if they notice friends or family members showing signs of extremist thoughts or behaviors.

(Updated at 6.40pm)

 

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