The pro-independence Hong Kong National Front have confirmed that one of their members has been arrested in connection with what police say is a record seizure of high explosives. However the group said they knew nothing about the explosives.

Police raided the Lung Shing Factory building on Texaco Road in Tsuen Wan on Friday night following a tip-off, and say they found two kilograms of the powerful high explosive TATP, petrol bombs and knives. A 27-year-old man was arrested, and two other men were detained in connection later in the day.

“We are dealing with a homemade laboratory for the manufacture of high explosive, especially TATP – triacetone triperoxide. This is an extremely sensitive and extremely powerful high explosive,” said Alick McWhirter, a senior bomb disposal officer with the police’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bureau.

“It will cause exceptional amounts of damage when used. It is also very unstable, and it will react to heat, friction and impact.”

About a kilogram of the explosives were detonated on Saturday morning. McWhirter said more controlled detonations, involving another kilogram of the explosives, would be carried out later on Saturday.

The police said they also found some anti-extradition bill banners, and clothes labelled “Hong Kong National Front”, which is a pro-independence group.

The Hong Kong National Front later confirmed on its Facebook page that the arrested man is one of their members. However, the group said it did not know why there were explosives in the unit, and it was only used to store audio equipment and promotional materials.
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Last updated: 2019-07-21 HKT 07:55