[in brief] IEDs increase tensions in the fight for Hong Kong
First published 27th April 2020
by Tom Warneke
Asia | Understanding Your World | Resolving Incidents & Crisis
It’s been reported that Monday 20th April saw a small improvised explosive device (IED) addressed to Police Commissioner Deng Bingqiang delivered to the Police Force headquarters in Wan Chain, Hong Kong.
The device was rendered safe and no injuries or damage were reported. According to the police, the IED could have injured anyone within a 1 metre radius if it had detonated.
This incident follows multiple recent deliveries of packages containing suspicious white powder to various police departments and the offices of social welfare. It’s likely similar incidents targeting law enforcement and government personnel will continue in the near term.
Subsequently it’s been reported that on April 22nd, Police arrested a man in Sau Mau Ping in Kwun Tong District in Kowloon on charges of conspiracy to cause bodily harm. Equipment used to make explosives was found in his house including material similar to what was found in the two 10-kg improvised explosive devices found at Hong Kong Huaren College in Wan Chai in December 2019. Police claim these could have been detonated remotely and have a blast radius of up to 100m.
While there’s no clear evidence that these IED incidents are linked to the pro-democracy activist groups, this is most likely. To date, the IEDs found are relatively crude and haven’t caused damage or harm. It is however quite reasonable to assume that over time tactics and devices will become more sophisticated and motivations grow stronger. This poses significant security and safety risks to businesses and people in the immediate vicinity as well as prominent business, police and government officials who may be target.
Should this prove to be an escalation of the protests in Hong Kong, it poses significant risk and danger to the general public.
At ComplexGlobal, we continue to follow the ongoing tensions and protests in Hong, you can view all our analysis of the situation at complexglobal.co
