HK students nabbed over ‘terrorism’

Hong Kong, Aug. 18: Four student leaders from Hong Kong’s top university were arrested on Wednesday for “advocating terrorism”, police said.

A controversial student union statement following a lone wolf attack on a police officer last month sparked the arrests, according to senior superintendent Steve Li, from the city’s national security police unit.

“Four men aged between 18 and 20 were arrested today, they are members of the student union and the student union council,” he told reporters.

On July 1, a man stabbed and wounded a police officer in a busy shopping district before taking his own life in what authorities called an act of “domestic terrorism”.

Shortly afterwards, the University of Hong Kong’s (HKU) student union released a statement expressing “deep sadness” over the attacker’s death and appreciation for his “sacrifice”.

The statement proved hugely controversial even as the union retracted the statement and apologised for its wording.

“It beautified, rationalised, glorified terrorism and an indiscriminate attack and encouraged suicidal acts,” Li said. Three of those arrested will be taken to court on Thursday after prosecutors placed charges against them, legal sources said.

Last month, police raided the buildings housing the union’s offices, campus TV station and student magazine.

HKU’s management also banned the union’s council members from campus.

Advocating terrorism carries up to 10 years in jail and is covered by Hong Kong’s national security law. That law, imposed on the city last year by Beijing, has quickly criminalised much dissent.

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