Hong Kong: China warned today against "radical forces" in Hong Kong after police arrested 10 people on suspicion of making explosives ahead of a vote on a controversial political reform package.
Police said one suspect had claimed to be a member of a "radical local group" but would not name the group or specify motives.
The bomb allegations have been met with scepticism by some commentators in the semi-autonomous Chinese city, who questioned their timing before the vote expected by Friday.
"The radical opposition camp has recently resorted to despicable means and are engaged in extreme violent activities," said Song Ruan, deputy commissioner for Beijing's foreign affairs office in Hong Kong, without specifically referring to the arrests.
Song urged lawmakers to pass the bill setting out how Hong Kong will choose its next leader in 2017.
Although it will for the first time give all residents the right to vote for the chief executive, it adheres to a Beijing ruling that candidates must be vetted by a loyalist committee.
Currently the chief executive is chosen by a 1,200-strong pro-Beijing committee.
"No-one knows when the constitutional reform process will be re-launched," said Song.
Daily rallies are being held before this week's vote. Police warned anyone taking part to stay away from "violent protesters" following Monday's arrests.
All 10 suspects were arrested "on suspicion of conspiracy to manufacture explosives" and detained overnight.
Police also seized chemicals at an abandoned television studio in the eastern district of Sai Kung, with some detonated at the scene.
A house search led to the seizure of ingredients which police said could be used to make TATP, a highly-volatile explosive believed to have been used in the deadly terror attacks in London in 2005.
Based on the chemical hydrogen peroxide, it can be very unstable and prone to shock and heat.
Air rifles and "V for Vendetta" style face masks were also found. The masks were occasionally worn by protesters during the mass rallies and are a symbol of anti-establishment defiance worldwide.
'Smear Campaign'
"I suggest we look very carefully, deeply and calmly at this case before we give this individual incident too much priority," security expert Steve Vickers said of the arrests.
"The timing is obviously of considerable interest."
Vickers said it was easy to find the ingredients for TATP online but it would be difficult to manufacture the explosive.
"The persons who are accused of possessing this, unless they are experts, probably present a greater threat to themselves than the public if they try and transport this material," said Vickers, a former senior police officer.
Local media named the radical group as the National Independent Party and linked it to a new "localist" pro-democracy movement which is seeking a more independent Hong Kong.
A Facebook page purportedly for the group, which only had posts from within the last 24 hours, showed an image of the Statue of Liberty carrying a sickle.
A previous page for the group, created in January, was taken down Monday.
Local media quoted the old page as saying: "Hongkongers must be prepared that there would be casualties" tomorrow, the day the reform bill goes to the legislature for debate.
But there was scepticism from campaigners.
"People have never heard of the organisation and don't know its members. The whole thing could be a set-up intended as a smear campaign against the localist camp," said political commentator Kam Sai-kit, writing for pro-democracy portal Post852.
Lawmaker Emily Lau, chairwoman of the Democratic Party, urged calm.
"I always call on the people not to resort to force and violence, because you will be met with even more force and violence," Lau said.
Police said one suspect had claimed to be a member of a "radical local group" but would not name the group or specify motives.
The bomb allegations have been met with scepticism by some commentators in the semi-autonomous Chinese city, who questioned their timing before the vote expected by Friday.
"The radical opposition camp has recently resorted to despicable means and are engaged in extreme violent activities," said Song Ruan, deputy commissioner for Beijing's foreign affairs office in Hong Kong, without specifically referring to the arrests.
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Song urged lawmakers to pass the bill setting out how Hong Kong will choose its next leader in 2017.
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Although it will for the first time give all residents the right to vote for the chief executive, it adheres to a Beijing ruling that candidates must be vetted by a loyalist committee.
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Currently the chief executive is chosen by a 1,200-strong pro-Beijing committee.
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"No-one knows when the constitutional reform process will be re-launched," said Song.
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Daily rallies are being held before this week's vote. Police warned anyone taking part to stay away from "violent protesters" following Monday's arrests.
All 10 suspects were arrested "on suspicion of conspiracy to manufacture explosives" and detained overnight.
Police also seized chemicals at an abandoned television studio in the eastern district of Sai Kung, with some detonated at the scene.
A house search led to the seizure of ingredients which police said could be used to make TATP, a highly-volatile explosive believed to have been used in the deadly terror attacks in London in 2005.
Based on the chemical hydrogen peroxide, it can be very unstable and prone to shock and heat.
Air rifles and "V for Vendetta" style face masks were also found. The masks were occasionally worn by protesters during the mass rallies and are a symbol of anti-establishment defiance worldwide.
'Smear Campaign'
"I suggest we look very carefully, deeply and calmly at this case before we give this individual incident too much priority," security expert Steve Vickers said of the arrests.
"The timing is obviously of considerable interest."
Vickers said it was easy to find the ingredients for TATP online but it would be difficult to manufacture the explosive.
"The persons who are accused of possessing this, unless they are experts, probably present a greater threat to themselves than the public if they try and transport this material," said Vickers, a former senior police officer.
Local media named the radical group as the National Independent Party and linked it to a new "localist" pro-democracy movement which is seeking a more independent Hong Kong.
A Facebook page purportedly for the group, which only had posts from within the last 24 hours, showed an image of the Statue of Liberty carrying a sickle.
A previous page for the group, created in January, was taken down Monday.
Local media quoted the old page as saying: "Hongkongers must be prepared that there would be casualties" tomorrow, the day the reform bill goes to the legislature for debate.
But there was scepticism from campaigners.
"People have never heard of the organisation and don't know its members. The whole thing could be a set-up intended as a smear campaign against the localist camp," said political commentator Kam Sai-kit, writing for pro-democracy portal Post852.
Lawmaker Emily Lau, chairwoman of the Democratic Party, urged calm.
"I always call on the people not to resort to force and violence, because you will be met with even more force and violence," Lau said.
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