National security police said on Tuesday that they have arrested a man and four women on suspicion of being involved in bogus bomb threats and posting messages online advocating secession.

The suspects, aged between 24 and 38, were arrested on Monday, with officers seizing a number of phones and computers after searching four flats.

The force said that between April 29 and May 20, the man, 35, is suspected to have sent e-mails to the force and posted messages on social media promoting independence for Taiwan.

Officers say he also called for the abolition of the National Security Law, and claimed that he would set off a bomb placed at one of the central government's offices in Hong Kong.

The force further accused the suspect of making an emergency 999 call on May 13 to claim he had planted a bomb at the Kai Tak Sports Park where a concert was to be held – while allegedly promoting Hong Kong and Taiwan Independence.

The chief superintendent of the national security department, Steve Li, said police arrived and searched the park on the day and didn't find anything suspicious, so the concert wasn't affected.

"We understand that the suspect used a voice altering device to create an audio file and called 999 through his mobile phone from Hung Hom. After that, he immediately threw the phone into the sea," Li told reporters.

"Because this phone is very important to the case, we'll send divers in to search for the phone."

The chief superintendent said police haven't found any explosive devices so far in connection with the case, and officers are investigating possible motives and the political stances of the suspects.

The suspects are accused of conspiracy to commit terrorist activities.

The male suspect was on Tuesday evening being detained for further enquiries while the four women were released on bail.

Li noted that the national security crime of threatening to commit terrorism carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, while those convicted of bomb hoaxes can be jailed for up to five years.
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Last updated: 2025-06-03 HKT 21:16