Hong Kong Police have released new details about the shooting and slashing incident that took place in the city’s busy Central District in the early hours of this morning that left three men injured — with one currently undergoing an operation — including confirmation that the violence was instigated by opposing groups of triad gang members.
Four have been arrested in connection with the case, but the gunman and others involved in the incident are still at large.
The gun too has yet to be found, prompting public concern in a city where the possession of firearms is prohibited for regular citizens.
A video, which is believed to be dashcam footage of the incident, was circulating on the internet on Friday.
Tony Ho, senior superintendent of the Organized Crime and Triad Bureau, told reporters they received reports of the incident at 46 Wyndham Street at around 2:40am.
He said members of the first triad were in three vehicles waiting for the traffic light to change when at least eight men, armed with sharp knives, from the second triad emerged from two vehicles, which were waiting behind them.
The knifemen attacked the people in the three vehicles, during which one vehicle sped off, knocking down one person in the process.
One person in one of the remaining vehicles of the first triad fired at least two shots before leaving.
Ho said officers at the scene found six men who are suspected to be related to the case. They immediately arrested three who were not injured. They were aged 23 to 42.
One is local, while two are non-Chinese. The other three — who are all non-Chinese — were sent to hospital for treatment.
Ho said, a man, aged 25, was shot in the abdomen and was undergoing an operation.
Another man, aged 30, suffered from head injuries and was stable after his operation was completed.
The superintendent said the final casualty, 36, had a slight leg injury and was in a stable condition. He has since been arrested.
The four have been arrested on suspicion of attempting to injure others and possessing offensive weapons.
The four who have been arrested are from the second gang, while no one from the first gang has been found.
Ho said officers found one bullet, one shell case and nine sharp knives at the scene.
He added that initial investigations showed that the gun used might be a semi-automatic pistol.
“The incident was instigated by two triad groups. They have been at each other’s throats for quite some time. Mostly, the dispute was caused by [the unequal distribution of profits gained from] illegal activities such as illegal gambling and the trafficking of dangerous drugs,” he said.
Ho pledged to arrest all involved and find the gun to prevent similar incidents from happening and protect the safety of Hong Kong residents.
But he said there was no need for residents to be overly panicked.
“I don’t think a single isolated incident such as this one should cause a great alarm for the general public that the gun [issue] is actually a problem in Hong Kong.” he said.
Ho added this case is the first gun-related crime this year.
Shootings are rare in Hong Kong.
Under the Firearms and Ammunition Ordinance, no person shall have in his or her possession any arms or ammunition unless he or she holds a license for possession of such arms or ammunition or a dealer’s license for such items.
