A 28-year-old Hong Kong police officer was attacked by a 50-year-old man surnamed Leung with a knife from behind when he was stationed on Causeway Bay Street on the evening of the anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty to Hong Kong on Thursday (July 1). The suspect later stabbed him with a knife. His chest was later subdued by the police, and the suspect was certified dead after being rushed to the hospital.
The Hong Kong police classified the case as “intentional murder.” Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security, Tang Pingqiang, said that the police found computers and objects in the suspect’s home that he believed to be “differentiated and intensified”, which was initially defined as a “lone wolf-style local terrorist attack.”
Many Hong Kong netizens expressed their grief over the incident on social media. Some people regarded the suspects as “brothers” and sympathized. Deng Bingqiang criticized this as a “beautifying attack” and described these behind-the-scenes as “full of blood” and hoped that the society would condemn it.
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor strongly condemned the incident and said that the police will fully investigate whether the case is organized.
According to Hong Kong media reports, the suspect was unmarried, lived with his parents, and left a suicide note when the case happened. On July 2nd, someone brought white flowers to the scene to mourn. The police were on alert and intercepted the person holding the white flowers.
what happen?
July 1st of this year marks the 24th anniversary of the transfer of sovereignty in Hong Kong and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China. The Hong Kong police banned applications from democrats for demonstrations and rallies and mobilized 10,000 police officers. During the period, they blocked Victoria Park and prevented democrats from setting up street stations on the streets. , And intercepted multiple citizens for investigation.
The Hong Kong police said 19 people were arrested for alleged misconduct in public places, distributing seditious publications, possessing imitation firearms, possessing offensive weapons and insulting the national flag.
At nearly 10 o’clock in the evening, a 50-year-old man wearing gray clothes suddenly attacked a police officer on duty in the downtown area of Causeway Bay with a knife.
According to media reports on the scene, the man used a knife to pierce himself into his chest after the attack. Several police officers pulled out their guns to warn him, stepped forward to subdue him, pressed the suspect on the ground with his backhand and locked his hand clasp. After that, the police performed extra-heart pressure on the suspect.
Hong Kong police seized two knives at the scene, including a saber and a fruit knife.
The Hong Kong Hospital Authority stated that the man was certified dead at 11:20 pm after being sent to the hospital.
The injured police officer was also taken to the hospital, and several officials visited. The police officer is 28 years old this year and is stationed in the Tactical Unit. His wound is 10 cm deep and hurts his lungs. He needs surgery.
“Lone wolf-style local terrorist attack”
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam issued a statement at the airport on Thursday after returning to Hong Kong from Beijing, condemning the incident “strongly” and saying that the police will fully investigate whether the case is organized and condolences the injured police officers.
The police classified the case as intentional murder. The Secretary for Security, Deng Pingqiang, said that the computer and objects seized from the suspect’s home were found to be “differentiated and intensified”, but will continue to investigate the suspect’s background. There is no evidence to prove that there was an accomplice. He described the incident as being “differentiated and intensified”. “Lone wolf-style local terrorist attack.”
The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong, the largest establishment political party in Hong Kong, issued a statement saying that it was shocked and angry at the incident. It described the assailants deliberately committing acts of violence that endangered the lives of others. This is a “serious violation of the rule of law in Hong Kong and a malicious provocation to the Hong Kong police force. Any civilized society Neither can be tolerated”.
There was a mourning voice on Hong Kong’s social media. Many netizens expressed their distress over the incident, but some pages and pro-democratic netizens described the suspect as a “righteous man.” This phenomenon reflects that Hong Kong’s sentiment against the police is still at a high level.
The Secretary for Security of Hong Kong, Tang Pingqiang, criticized this as a “beautifying attack” and hoped that the community would condemn it. He said: “In addition to the perpetrators who are responsible for this incident, many people usually keep advocating violence, inciting hatred and hatred of society, inciting hatred of the country, beautifying violence and attacks. This is precisely the main cause of this unfortunate incident. In addition to the murderers who are responsible, these people are also full of blood.”
He did not agree that the incident was due to the government’s prohibition on demonstrations and gatherings, which prevented public opinion from venting. He believed that this statement was “putting the cart before the horse”. He said: “Many people use the police as an excuse to tell the public that the police strictly enforce the law, so you should break the law even more. This is what I worry about. Friends who want to watch TV at home, don’t be misled by this. Hong Kong society has become more chaotic. I hope that more people who hate in society will poison you.”
Last year, a survey conducted by the Hong Kong Mental Health Research found that nearly 60% of the respondents were substandard in their mental health index, and one-third of the respondents said that social disputes have caused trauma to their mental health, and about one-quarter of them May suffer from “traumatic sequelae.”
Zhong Jianhua, the deputy chief executive of the Hong Kong Institute of Public Opinion, believes that this is a “virgin, vicious circle of opposition and cruelty”, and society needs to seek reconciliation.
Zhong Jianhua said on social networking sites, “For society to reconcile, the party in power should always take the initiative first. The ordinary people who have no power and power are constantly being persecuted, and they are often powerless in the face of oppression by tyranny. A few people are impatient. It becomes inevitable to resort to extreme measures. Most people will not do this, but as long as some people themselves or their family members are persecuted and face injustice and have nowhere to complain, such incidents will inevitably occur. .”
He also said: “Of course, all sectors of society should try their best to remain calm, but is there such a vision and insight for the system power that has continuously heated up the sentiment of the people and has nowhere to vent it?”