Songkran 'shooter' arrested

Stacy Shi

A YouTuber has been arrested for "shooting" patrolling policemen with a water gun during the Songkran water festival in Kowloon City to mark Thai new year celebrations.

Suspect Tsang, 25, also videoed himself going after officers and TVB reporters with a water gun.

Suspended for three years because of Covid, the event was relaunched on Sunday afternoon with hundreds of people fighting a water war.

But police there to maintain order as well as media personnel became targets for Tsang, believed to be a leading figure of YouTube channel Bravedogdog, and his companions.

The video loaded on the channel shows Tsang and other men opening fire with jets of water at police.

The group also cheers and goes after the officers when they try to get clear, shooting water at officers' heads and upper bodies from close range.

Tsang also turns a water pipe on a woman officer. Then the group turns on two TVB reporters, shooting water directly into the face of one from close range.

A TVB cameraman tells Tsang to stop, but a subtitle reads: "It's silly to obey him. The more you don't allow me the more I want to play."

The cameraman then grows angry and says "get out of my way." But Tsang elbows him and continues to chase the two reporters.

The cameraman asks police to intervene, while the subtitle states: "TVB angrily asked teachers for help." The attack then stops.

Tsang also shouts "time to win" - taken from a slogan on the back of his red T-shirt. The clip ends with a photo of Tsang standing in the middle of eight men in black claiming to be the "Hong Kong New Order."

Tsang was arrested yesterday for disorder in a public place. Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said "soft resistance" involves people using culture to degrade the country and incite dissatisfaction through misleading accusations.

Anyone convicted of disorderly conduct or inciting others to engage in unruly behavior can face 12 months' imprisonment or a fine of up to HK$5,000.

The case remained under investigation and more arrests were not ruled out.

Columnist Wat Wing-yin said in an article that "Bravedogdog" was "sniping" maliciously at police and reporters. She also labeled the loading of the video to social media as "a second-time insult to law enforcement and journalists."

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com