A Hong Kong man arrested on suspicion of threatening to bomb Admiralty MTR station has been released on bail.
The 31-year-old man, surnamed Chung, appeared at Eastern Magistrates’ Courts on Monday after his arrest on Friday, local media reported.
He was charged with allegedly spreading false information about a bomb.
Magistrate David Cheung released Chung on HK$20,000 bail and adjourned the case to May 5 to allow police more time for investigation.
As part of his bail conditions, Chung is not allowed to leave Hong Kong, must abide by a curfew, and cannot go to the Admiralty MTR station.
Police told reporters on Saturday that they received a report on January 27 about someone saying on a gaming platform that they would plant a bomb at Admiralty MTR station on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Police later arrested a man in Sha Tin on suspicion of making a bomb hoax and possessing imitation firearms.
They found three imitation firearms in the suspect’s home, as well as related components such as magazines and plastic pellets. They did not identify any bombs or materials that can be used to make bombs.
Officers from the force’s Counter Terrorism Response Unit and the Emergency Unit inspected Admiralty MTR station but found no suspicious items.
The suspect, who is unemployed, was described by police as a “war game lover.”
Under Hong Kong law, anybody convicted of making bomb hoaxes faces up to five years’ imprisonment and a maximum fine of HK$150,000.
Possessing imitation firearms is punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment.
