1 found guilty of ‘Dragon Slaying’ bombing to kill Hong Kong police, 6 acquitted

One man has been found guilty of a foiled bomb plot to kill police during social unrest in Hong Kong in 2019. He faces life in prison. Six other suspects have been acquitted of conspiracy under a UN counterterrorism law.

After three days and two nights of deliberation, a nine-member jury reached a verdict Thursday, finding all four men associated with the “Dragon Slaying Brigade” and a separate protest group not guilty of charges of conspiracy to bomb prescribed objects under United Nations law.

But Lai Chun-pong, who was part of the team of Ng Chi-hung, the mastermind behind the plot, was found guilty of the alternative charge of conspiracy to cause explosions endangering life or causing serious damage to property.

The plan involved placing two bombs along Hennessy Road in Wan Chai on December 8, 2019.

The jurors unanimously decided to acquit Cheung Chun-fu, Cheung Ming-yu, Yim Man-him, Christian Lee Ka-tin and Justin Hui Cham-wing of all charges.

The jury also found the six men not guilty of complicity in the murder of police officers.

The seventh and only female defendant, Lau Pui-ying, was acquitted of conspiracy to provide or collect property for the purpose of committing terrorist acts.

The prosecution alleged that the plot was hatched by brigade leader Wong Chun-keung and Ng during a meeting on November 18, 2019.

During the meeting, the two agreed that the brigade would lure the police into the streets, while Ng would detonate a small bomb containing 2kg of explosives.

They predicted that the police would then withdraw to their Arsenal Street headquarters, where sniper David Su would ambush the officers while Ng detonated the larger bomb containing 8kg of explosives and 150 nails.

Wong, Ng, Su and Eddie Pang Kwan-ho previously confessed to their involvement in the conspiracy.