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Tuesday, Dec 31, 2024
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Four more in deep water amid songkran fallout
Police are searching for four more men in connection with spraying water at policemen and the press at a Songkran festival event in Kowloon City on Sunday to celebrate the Thai New Year's Day.
Two men, aged 25 and 26, including a YouTuber, were arrested on Wednesday for disorderly conduct in a public place.
Chief inspector Cheung Lok-chuen said that in order to maintain public safety and public order during the event, officers from the district were sent to Carpenter Road Park, Shing Nam Road and Ta Kwu Ling Road Rest Garden that day.
The district, popularly known as "Little Thailand," is home to dozens of Thai restaurants and grocery stores frequented by Hongkongers, and the tradition of splashing water is to wash away sins and bad luck.
"But police found the two suspects and four other men continuously spraying water with water guns or bottles at police officers and media workers at close range during the event," Cheung said.
The six ignored police warnings and kept shouting and using foul language to accuse officers in an incident that lasted three minutes, he said.
He said the act had been filmed and uploaded to social media platforms with subversive subtitles added.
Cheung said the group "intended to breach the public peace" and the incident might have been planned in advance. Further arrests may be made, he added.
Cheung said the police would make arrangements for any celebrations to ensure they proceeded smoothly so that participants could enjoy the festivities.
However, he said "the celebration is not an opportunity for individuals to vent their anger and I hope the public will not interfere with the work of law enforcement officers."
The two men were arrested in Hung Hom and Kowloon City on Wednesday for causing disorder in a public place.
It is understood that one of the suspects is 25-year-old Tsang, a leading figure in the YouTube channel Bravedogdog, who videoed people at the event, including himself, shooting water at the officers and TVB reporters with water guns.
Two three-minute clips were uploaded to the channel on Monday.
Chief inspector Cheung Lok-chuen said that in order to maintain public safety and public order during the event, officers from the district were sent to Carpenter Road Park, Shing Nam Road and Ta Kwu Ling Road Rest Garden that day.
The district, popularly known as "Little Thailand," is home to dozens of Thai restaurants and grocery stores frequented by Hongkongers, and the tradition of splashing water is to wash away sins and bad luck.
"But police found the two suspects and four other men continuously spraying water with water guns or bottles at police officers and media workers at close range during the event," Cheung said.
The six ignored police warnings and kept shouting and using foul language to accuse officers in an incident that lasted three minutes, he said.
He said the act had been filmed and uploaded to social media platforms with subversive subtitles added.
Cheung said the group "intended to breach the public peace" and the incident might have been planned in advance. Further arrests may be made, he added.
Cheung said the police would make arrangements for any celebrations to ensure they proceeded smoothly so that participants could enjoy the festivities.
However, he said "the celebration is not an opportunity for individuals to vent their anger and I hope the public will not interfere with the work of law enforcement officers."
The two men were arrested in Hung Hom and Kowloon City on Wednesday for causing disorder in a public place.
It is understood that one of the suspects is 25-year-old Tsang, a leading figure in the YouTube channel Bravedogdog, who videoed people at the event, including himself, shooting water at the officers and TVB reporters with water guns.
Two three-minute clips were uploaded to the channel on Monday.
