Hong Kong police have charged seven people in connection with last year’s Prince Edward MTR incident, with some facing charges of rioting.
In all, 69 people have been arrested in connection with the August 31 incident on suspicion of unlawful assembly, property damage, possession of an instrument fit for an unlawful purpose, possession of an offensive weapon and false imprisonment. Sixty-four of them refused police bail and were released pending further investigation, whilst five were released after police granted bail.
On August 31 last year, special tactical officers from the police force stormed into the MTR station. Officers wielded batons and deployed pepper spray inside train carriages and on the platform, leaving dozens injured. Fire services medics were denied entry whilst journalists were evicted from the station amid city-wide pro-democracy protests.
According to a press statement on Tuesday, the force arrested three people who refused bail during operations in Sha Tin, Tseung Kwan O and Kwun Tong. Along with four who were previously released on police bail, the seven – aged between 14 and 29 – were charged with rioting, unlawful assembly, property damage, assault, assault occasioning bodily harm, robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.
Ming Pao reported that at least three of the arrestees were facing two rioting charges – in both Mong Kok and Prince Edward – whilst one of the group was facing a total of eight charges.
The case will be mentioned at Kowloon City Magistrates’ Court on July 17.
