02 Apr 2020 | 11:09 AM UTC
Hong Kong: Best Mart in Tuen Mun firebombed in latest attack April 2 /update 193
Firebombs thrown at a Best Mart 360 in Tuen Mun April 2; similar attacks on government and police-associated facilities possible
Event
On Thursday, April 2, at roughly 02:30 (local time), two assailants broke the window of a Best Mart 360 in Tuen Mun and hurled five firebombs into the shop. The assailants escaped, and the Hong Kong Police are currently conducting a city-wide manhunt for the culprits.
Best Marts have previously been targeted by anti-government protesters since demonstrations began in June 2019.
On Wednesday, April 1, the Hong Kong Police announced that 17 attacks had been carried out against police facilities following a series of posts on messaging applications calling on users to attack police facilities in January 2020.
Further attacks are possible over the near term.
Context
The April 2 attack on the Best Mart 360 comes amid a string of related attacks on police facilities and living quarters in Hong Kong in recent weeks. Most recently, similar petrol-bomb attacks targeted a police station in Tai Po on April 1, a police station in Happy Valley on March 30, and a police living-quarters compound in Sheung Shui on March 23; no casualties were reported in any of the attacks.
Demonstrations have been held throughout Hong Kong since June 2019 to protest a controversial extradition bill, which would have allowed authorities in Hong Kong to extradite fugitives wanted in mainland China and other territories. While the bill was withdrawn on September 4, mass protests continue to be organized to demand government reforms and police accountability over violence since the start of the demonstrations. Pro-democracy candidates won 389 of the 452 seats in the territory's district council elections on November 24. The pro-democracy movement victory and the high turnout (71 percent) of the vote suggest that the public continues to support protests. Over 7000 people have been arrested since the protests began.
Advice
Individuals in Hong Kong are advised to monitor developments, report suspicious objects and behavior to police, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.
