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71 arrested over riots in Hong Kong on Saturday: Police

Reuters
Hong KongUpdated: Sep 02, 2019, 08:43 AM IST
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Hong Kong police (file photo). Photograph:(Reuters)

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According to Kowloon West Regional Headquarters, a total of 63 people, 54 men and nine women aged 13 to 36, were arrested for offenses including unlawful assembly and possession of explosives and offensive weapons

Hong Kong police said on Sunday that 71 people were arrested during the riots on Saturday.

According to Kowloon West Regional Headquarters, a total of 63 people, 54 men and nine women aged 13 to 36, were arrested for offenses including unlawful assembly and possession of explosives and offensive weapons.

Speaking at a press conference, Acting Senior Superintendent Tsui Suk-yee of Kowloon West Regional (Crime) said that during the arrest operations, the police seized evidences including petrol bombs, gas masks, laser guns, steel balls, armors, helmets and umbrellas.

According to Tsui, two petrol bombs and lighters were found among the belongings of a 13-year-old suspect. A batch of petrol bombs were also seized by police on the platform of Prince Edward MTR Station.

In the above-mentioned cases, suspects had posed a severe threat to public safety and social order, said Tsui.

After obtaining legal advice from the Department of Justice, some arrested suspects would be prosecuted, said Tsui, adding that the police did not rule out more arrests in coming days.

During an arrest operation in a store at Sai Ying Pun Saturday afternoon, six men and two women were also arrested for possessing offensive weapons, said Chief Inspector (Crime) of Western District Ng Kei-chun at a press conference.

During the arrest operation, 12 press cards were seized, three of which contained personal data matching those of the three arrested persons, said Ng.

However, initial probes by the police found no information available about the media organizations on the press cards.

The police had also seized suspected assault weapons including axes, steel balls, steel ball launchers and corrosive liquids, said Ng.

Noting that in recent protests, some radical protesters had used corrosive liquids against police officers, Ng said there were reasonable grounds to believe that the suspects were making offensive weapons.