Man Arrested in Hong Kong Over Online Bomb Hoax and Disneyland Gun Comments

Hong Kong police arrested a 20-year-old man on Friday on suspicion of making a bomb hoax, following an online threat reported to authorities the previous Thursday. The suspect, a resident of Hong Kong, was apprehended in the Kowloon City district, according to a police statement released on Saturday.

Local media reports, citing sources, suggest the man is suspected of leaving comments on Instagram. One comment allegedly discussed planting a bomb in the city, while another inquired about bringing an automatic rifle into Disneyland. Police stated that a search of the arrestee's residence yielded no gunpowder, explosives, or political materials. As a precaution, patrols at Hong Kong Disneyland were increased, though no suspicious activity was reported.

Both online comments have since been deleted. The police issued a reminder to the public regarding Section 28 of the Public Order Ordinance, emphasizing that individuals convicted of making false bomb reports face a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment. The case is currently under investigation by the Lantau District's Crime Investigation Team 3, and the man remained in detention as of Sunday evening.

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Police remind the public that under Section 28 of the Public Order Ordinance, anyone who makes a false report of a bomb is liable to a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment upon conviction.