Monday, May 18, 2009

Hong Kong shoppers injured in second acid attack

Thirty people were injured in one of Hong Kong's busiest shopping districts when two bottles of acid were hurled down a street, a police spokesman said.

The bottles were tossed into a crowd Saturday in the city's Mongkok district in Sai Yeung Choi street -- the same street where 46 people were injured in a similar attack in December.

The injured -- mostly young people who suffered burns to their faces, limbs and shoulders -- were admitted to hospital. All had been released by Sunday except a 16-year-old girl, a government spokeswoman said.

Police said they had not ruled out the possibility that the same person or people carried out both attacks.

"We are now investigating the two cases together as the nature of the two attacks is very similar," the spokesman said.

Chief Executive Donald Tsang said after inspecting the Mongkok street with officers Sunday that the crime must be solved as soon as possible.

"(The attack) is an extremely serious crime. We must catch the culprit as soon as possible," he said.

Tsang said a 100,000 Hong Kong dollars (12,800 US) reward offered in December for information leading to the arrests of those involved has been raised to 300,000 dollars.

The police spokesman said anyone prosecuted for the attacks could be charged with intent to do grievous bodily harm, with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

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