Hong Kong police arrested a woman on Monday for allegedly assaulting pro-democracy lawmaker Nathan Law, and for taking part in an unlawful assembly during a protest at the Hong Kong International Airport on January 8.
The woman surnamed Kwong, 67, was arrested in Tseung Kwan O and taken to the New Territories South Regional Police Headquarters for investigation purposes.
Including Kwong, police have apprehended five in connection with the attack so far. A spokesperson said they are not ruling out the possibility of further arrests.
Law was surrounded at the airport by pro-China protesters following a trip to Taiwan, where he and three other pro-democracy leaders were attending a forum hosted by the New Power Party.
The group attempted to assault Law at the airport’s arrival hall. His shirt was torn and his glasses flew off, and he was also sprayed with a liquid. Photographs presented by Law at a press conference previously showed that he was sporting a large red bruise near his neck, as well as multiple bruises on his limbs.
Two men, aged 53 and 71, were arrested two days after the attack for allegedly assaulting three reporters covering the protest. A 68-year-old woman was apprehended the following day on suspicion of assaulting Law and participating in an unlawful assembly. A fourth suspect, a 71-year-old man, was arrested last Friday.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese police have arrested at least 14 people on suspicion of involvement in another attack against the five Hong Kong pro-democracy politicians at the Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. One of the arrestees is a senior gang leader, while another is the son of “White Wolf” Chang An-le, a former leader of the the Bamboo Union crime brotherhood.
Law previously said that Taiwanese police were clearly more proactive and efficient than their Hong Kong counterparts, who had only made two arrests following violent attacks against Law at the airport.
Hong Kong police also came under heavy criticism for not doing enough to intervene in the attacks against Law and blaming Law for ignoring their advice that it was inappropriate for him to meet with press at the airport.
Law’s party colleague Joshua Wong, who paid another visit to Taiwan for a forum with researchers last weekend, said Sunday that the Hong Kong police force “finally” sent officers to patrol the airport during his arrival at the city’s airport.
