Public housing turned into explosives laboratory! The police pointed out that they noticed that in the past year, some people have made comments on social media on how to attack police officers, find a certain judge to settle accounts, and ask the other party’s residence, etc., and even claimed that they had made explosives. After in-depth investigation, they took action on Monday. A family of three was arrested in a public housing unit on suspicion of making explosives and inciting others with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. A large quantity of raw materials suspected to be capable of making explosives such as TATP (Triacetone Triperoxide) and HMTD (Hexamethylene Triperoxide Diamine) were also seized from the unit and its rented mini-storage. The police strongly condemn the illegal actions of those involved, which have caused great harm to themselves, their families and neighbors. The case is still under investigation and more arrests cannot be ruled out.
Investigate whether the two families are involved
The arrests included 2 men and 1 woman, a 31-year-old man surnamed Zhang who reported that he was a computer technician, and his two family members in their 60s. The three of them lived in a public housing unit in Guidong Building, Tung Tau Village. After an in-depth investigation, the Cybercrime Division targeted the 31-year-old local man and took action on Monday. Three people were arrested together in the unit. The police are investigating whether the remaining two are involved in criminal elements.
From July last year to April this year, the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Investigation Bureau found that there were activists on social media communication platforms targeting judicial officers and police officers, posting some messages advocating violence and inciting others, intimidating or harassing judicial officers and police officers information from officers, some of whom claimed to have used everyday items, developed explosives, and incited others to attack police headquarters.
Police found a large number of tools and raw materials suspected to be used to make explosives in a room of the 31-year-old target man’s residence on Monday. It is suspected that the scene was a small chemical laboratory that made explosives. Immediately, the staff of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Division and the government laboratory staff were required to attend the scene.
Superintendent Chen Huineng of the Police Organised Crime and Triad Investigation Branch said that the small chemical laboratory discovered by the police in the public housing contained a large number of different devices including measuring cups, a large number of wires, circuit boards, timers, homemade heating devices and pressure devices. And about 20 kilograms of chemical raw materials were found, including potassium chlorate, calcium nitrate and sodium sulfate, some similar to urethane water and canal water chemicals.
Suspicious soil TATP HMTD
The police then searched the mini-storage rented by the arrested person in San Po Kong and found about 10 to 15 kilograms of different kinds of chemicals, which may be used to make explosives. Ma Weide, senior bomb disposal director of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Division, said that after preliminary analysis of the chemical substances found in the investigation, it is believed that some people are planning to make domestic TATP (triacetone triperoxide), HMTD (hexamethylene triperoxide diamine) ) and other explosives, and pointed out that these explosives are very dangerous, and even a very small dose can lead to a big explosion. He said that TATP and HMTD are often used by terrorists around the world, with great lethality and can cause serious casualties.
When asked if the explosives were related to the upcoming July 1st anniversary of the handover, Chen Huineng pointed out that the preliminary investigation did not reveal which day the arrested person will use the explosives. At this stage, the police also need to conduct detailed chemical analysis and verification. , to determine whether the explosives involved have been completed or are still in the production stage.
Tan Weixin, Superintendent of the Cyber Security and Technology Crime Investigation Branch, pointed out that the investigation found that the 31-year-old arrested was involved in January and April, and left a message in an open group hoping that the police would die and attack the police headquarters. He also left a message in a group in July and August last year, saying that he wanted to find some judges to settle accounts, including asking about the address of a certain judge. He even claimed on social communication platforms that he had developed explosives.
Originally published on AM730 https://www.am730.com.hk/local/extremely harmful-public housing laboratory suspected of making explosives-a family of three detained in Tung Tau Village of Police/320905