Police have confirmed that eight minors were arrested on a promenade in Ma On Shan last night on suspicion of criminal damage and possession of offensive weapons.
Police confirmed to Coconuts HK via email that at 10pm last night they received reports that four shops in the Ma On Shan plaza were damaged. Officers didn’t provide any details on which stores were damaged or what the extent of the damage was.
The shopping mall was believed to be the scene of an impromptu “sing with you” protest, in which people rally at malls and other public places for a spontaneous singalong of protest songs like “Glory To Hong Kong” and “Do You Hear The People Sing?”
A team of more than 10 police officers went to the Ma On Shan waterfront promenade, where they found a group of eight youths, aged 12 to 17. After a preliminary investigation, they found one 13-year-old boy in possession of a wrench and a set of six spoons, and a 12-year-old boy in possession of a pair of scissors. The group was arrested on the spot on suspicion of criminal damage, while the boys with the scissors, wrench, and spoons were also arrested on suspicion of possession of offensive weapons, Ming Pao reports.
Video of the arrests shared on social media shows the teens pleading with the officers, telling them that they didn’t do anything. One can be heard yelling and crying out, “Don’t touch me,” “I wasn’t there,” and “Why are you arresting me?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASN5LEPZvr0
As the kids are cuffed and taken away, one can be heard yelling out his name and shouting, “I didn’t do anything,” as bystanders on the promenade watching the arrest to yell to the youths to give them their names.
The officers, in an apparent bid to prevent others from hearing the kids’ names, start yelling over them, while some were even filmed yelling at passersby, “Are you related to this case?”
While some of kids can be heard shouting out the names of their high schools, one boy yells “my body has no wounds,” a saying that’s become common for arrested protesters to call out amid fears that officers have been torturing detainees.
Apple Daily reports that the teens’ parents were called to Ma On Shan police station last night and were accompanied by two Sha Tin district councillors. The case is currently being handled by the Sha Tin police district investigation team.
The group had not been formally charged as of press time.
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