- Force preparing major arrest operation against mob carrying metal rods and sticks who targeted protesters and passengers at MTR station and beyond
- List of dozens of suspects includes faction leader of notorious gang, with raids expected to start on Monday and last for days
Police were set to launch a series of raids in Hong Kong on Monday night to arrest the white-clad men behind mob violence in Yuen Long, which left at least 45 people injured.
Force insiders told the Post they believed more than 100 attackers wielding wooden sticks and metal rods, including members of the 14K and Wo Shing Wo triad gangs, were involved in terrorising protesters and passers-by on Sunday night, following a mass anti-government march.
"We have a list of suspects in connection with the violent attacks. Anti-triad officers will soon launch an arrest operation in the district," one source said on Monday.
The dozens of assailants identified by police in connection with the rampant attack in Yuen Long MTR station included a Wo Shing Wo faction leader, whose nickname is "Yat Poon Tsai", according to the source.
He was said to hold the rank of "red-pole fighter", a senior triad member who acts as an enforcer.
The other suspect, whose alias is "Dou Kai Hok", is a village head in Yuen Long, who is believed to be a 14K triad member.
The source said officers would raid entertainment venues controlled by gangsters in Yuen Long, adding "the operation will begin on Monday night and last for several days".
The Post was told that an attempt to set up a Lennon Wall in Yuen Long might have sparked the violence. The walls in public spaces are decorated with messages and drawings in support of anti-government demonstrations.
The source said there were several outbreaks of conflict between Yuen Long gangsters and extradition bill protesters last week.
"Yuen Long gangsters had warned that they would give protesters a lesson if they dared to come again," he said.
The source said Sunday's violence was organised, as hundreds of gangsters wearing white T-shirts gathered in the evening, hours before clashes erupted in different areas of the district.
The force was criticised for their response to the rampaging mob, with residents complaining that officers took too long to arrive, and when they did make it to the scene, the attackers had already fled.
Hong Kong police deny accusation they colluded with Yuen Long thugs
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor hit out on Monday afternoon at the "shocking" violence in Yuen Long, and said she had requested the police commissioner left no stone unturned in arresting attackers.
On Sunday, at least 45 people including Democratic Party lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting were injured in the series of assaults and fights at different locations of Yuen Long district.
The most serious attack took place in Yuen Long MTR station at about 10.45pm, when a gang of men wearing white T-shirts used wooden sticks and metal rods to beat their targets, who were mostly extradition bill protesters.
Some of the most savage violence was seen when they stormed into a train carriage to attack passengers.
When two officers arrived at the scene seven minutes later, the pair made the assessment they did not have enough protective gear, so decided not to intervene and instead called for backup.
The attackers fled before police reinforcements of more than 30 officers arrived at the station at 11.20pm.
Yuen Long attackers were defending their home, says lawmaker
But the mob returned to the station to launch a second round of attacks at around midnight, by forcing open entrances that had been closed. Witnesses said there were no officers in sight.
The source said officers were deployed to other locations at the time, including a confrontation between more than 200 extradition bill protesters in black T-shirts and white-clad men at the entrance of nearby Nam Pin Wai village.
The two sides had left the area by 3am on Monday. No arrests were made at the scene.
Copyright (c) 2019. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.