Hong Kong police seize 7 imitation guns, other weapons and arrest suspect over haul
- Force has not ruled out possibility of case being related to 26th anniversary of city’s return to Chinese rule
- Officers find imitation firearms as well as knives, sword and axe at residential unit in Tseung Kwan O where suspect, 41, arrested
Hong Kong police have seized seven imitation guns and other weapons at a residential unit and arrested a 41-year-old man in connection with the haul.
The force on Friday said it had not ruled out that the case could be related to the 26th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule on Saturday.
Police raided the flat on Thursday in Tseung Kwan O, seizing seven imitation firearms, including six pistols and a rifle. Officers also found a rope dart, six folding knives, two short knives, a Chinese sword and an axe, according to Senior Inspector Lau Kai-yin of the force’s Kowloon East regional crime unit.
The 41-year-old man, who was said to be a construction worker and had no triad background, was arrested on suspicion of possessing offensive and prohibited weapons, as well as imitation firearms. He is being detained for investigation.
Lau said police were investigating the source of the weapons, whether they were involved in other cases and any possible motives for storing the equipment, adding more arrests could be made.
“We did not rule out that it could be related to July 1,” said Lau, referring to the 26th anniversary of the handover on Saturday.
“The police have been actively collecting information online and offline and analysing it, especially for some iconic and sensitive days such as July 1,” he said.
The force’s forensic firearms examination division will inspect the seized weapons.
