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14-06-2002, 16:26
Bomb found at racecourse
Home-made device packed with nails detonated after 9,700 soccer fans leave Sha Tin track
TOMMY LEWIS and CHOW CHUNG-YAN
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Bomb alert: Police search seats at Sha Tin racecourse for more explosives. A robot was used to detonate the nail bomb, which police say could have seriously injured match spectators. SCMP photos
A home-made nail bomb was found and detonated yesterday at Sha Tin racecourse after 9,700 soccer fans watched the World Cup match between China and Turkey there.
The incident, in which no one was injured, raised fears over security in the run-up to the fifth anniversary of the handover on July 1.
The Jockey Club admitted last night that the personal items of soccer fans had not been checked but stressed there had been sufficient security to ensure public safety.
Police said the home-made bomb, which consisted of gunpowder and nails, was potentially lethal.
Regional crime unit officers from New Territories South have been given the task of tracking down the culprit who was still at large early today.
Sha Tin Divisional Commander Ian Clark said a cleaning worker discovered a ParknShop shopping bag left on a seat on level four of the public grandstand at 4.52pm as the fans were leaving after the game, which China lost 3-0.
She opened it and saw a bottle-shaped object wrapped with a piece of brown paper with the word "bomb" written in Chinese characters, a practice often used during rioting in the territory in the 1960s. The device also had electrical cords and a mobile phone attached.
The worker reported her find to a security guard who notified police at the course. Officers cordoned off the area and called for a bomb disposal officer to examine the device. The officer then used a robot to douse the device with water before detonating the bomb.
During detonation there was a blast and flash of flames which scattered nails around the surrounding area.
A police source said the gunpowder found in the home-made bomb could have been taken from fireworks.
Police Tactical Unit officers last night searched all seats at the racecourse but no further objects were found.
No security checks were carried out when the 9,700 fans entered the racecourse to watch the game. They only needed to pass through an automatic turnstile to gain access. In contrast, at the Hong Kong Stadium where the game was also shown, fans were told they could not bring in any metal items or plastic bottles. Stadium security guards checked each bag before letting people in. Tim McNally, executive director of security at the Jockey Club, last night said sufficient security personnel had been deployed but it was routine not to check bags. "During a normal racing day, we don't inspect people's bags. We have never experienced any problems in the past and the public are generally pretty orderly," said Mr McNally.
He said there were 190 guards at the course and yesterday's discovery did not represent a flaw in the security system. "We need to hear the full details from the police. Then we will review the facts and situation on that day," he said.
Lau Kong-wah, chairman of Legco's security panel, said the bomb scare served as a timely warning to police and big-event organisers in preparation for the anniversary handover celebrations. Democratic Party legislator James To Kun-sun said police should strengthen security but the public should not over-react.
Police last night said they were baffled by the incident and appealed for anyone with information to phone 2631 8435-7.
Last year, Hong Kong was hit by a spate of bomb attacks on Pacific Century CyberWorks phone boxes in Tsim Sha Tsui, Tuen Mun and Kwun Tong.
Home-made device packed with nails detonated after 9,700 soccer fans leave Sha Tin track
TOMMY LEWIS and CHOW CHUNG-YAN
Next Story
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bomb alert: Police search seats at Sha Tin racecourse for more explosives. A robot was used to detonate the nail bomb, which police say could have seriously injured match spectators. SCMP photos
A home-made nail bomb was found and detonated yesterday at Sha Tin racecourse after 9,700 soccer fans watched the World Cup match between China and Turkey there.
The incident, in which no one was injured, raised fears over security in the run-up to the fifth anniversary of the handover on July 1.
The Jockey Club admitted last night that the personal items of soccer fans had not been checked but stressed there had been sufficient security to ensure public safety.
Police said the home-made bomb, which consisted of gunpowder and nails, was potentially lethal.
Regional crime unit officers from New Territories South have been given the task of tracking down the culprit who was still at large early today.
Sha Tin Divisional Commander Ian Clark said a cleaning worker discovered a ParknShop shopping bag left on a seat on level four of the public grandstand at 4.52pm as the fans were leaving after the game, which China lost 3-0.
She opened it and saw a bottle-shaped object wrapped with a piece of brown paper with the word "bomb" written in Chinese characters, a practice often used during rioting in the territory in the 1960s. The device also had electrical cords and a mobile phone attached.
The worker reported her find to a security guard who notified police at the course. Officers cordoned off the area and called for a bomb disposal officer to examine the device. The officer then used a robot to douse the device with water before detonating the bomb.
During detonation there was a blast and flash of flames which scattered nails around the surrounding area.
A police source said the gunpowder found in the home-made bomb could have been taken from fireworks.
Police Tactical Unit officers last night searched all seats at the racecourse but no further objects were found.
No security checks were carried out when the 9,700 fans entered the racecourse to watch the game. They only needed to pass through an automatic turnstile to gain access. In contrast, at the Hong Kong Stadium where the game was also shown, fans were told they could not bring in any metal items or plastic bottles. Stadium security guards checked each bag before letting people in. Tim McNally, executive director of security at the Jockey Club, last night said sufficient security personnel had been deployed but it was routine not to check bags. "During a normal racing day, we don't inspect people's bags. We have never experienced any problems in the past and the public are generally pretty orderly," said Mr McNally.
He said there were 190 guards at the course and yesterday's discovery did not represent a flaw in the security system. "We need to hear the full details from the police. Then we will review the facts and situation on that day," he said.
Lau Kong-wah, chairman of Legco's security panel, said the bomb scare served as a timely warning to police and big-event organisers in preparation for the anniversary handover celebrations. Democratic Party legislator James To Kun-sun said police should strengthen security but the public should not over-react.
Police last night said they were baffled by the incident and appealed for anyone with information to phone 2631 8435-7.
Last year, Hong Kong was hit by a spate of bomb attacks on Pacific Century CyberWorks phone boxes in Tsim Sha Tsui, Tuen Mun and Kwun Tong.