Jimmy Lai, Sons Arrested Under National Security Law

Apple Daily founder Jimmy Lai was arrested along with several others on Monday morning on suspicion of breaching the new National Security Law.

In the morning, the police said they'd arrested seven local men aged between 39 and 72 on suspicion of collusion with foreign forces and conspiracy to commit fraud.

In an updated message, police said by 4PM, the number of arrests had gone up to nine.

Apple Daily reported that Lai was taken away from his home in Ho Man Tin early on Monday morning. The paper said one of Lai's sons, Ian, was arrested at his home in Sai Kung, while executives of the newspaper were also taken in.

"Jimmy Lai is being arrested for collusion with foreign powers at this time," Mark Simon, a colleague of Lai's, wrote on Twitter.

The Oriental Daily News reported that an arrest warrant had been issued for Simon, who is understood to be outside Hong Kong.

Simon said officers were executing search warrants at both Lai's mansion and his son's house. A large number of reporters and police media liaison officers were at the mansion.

Television footage showed a large number of police officers entering Next Media's offices in Tseung Kwan O.

Next Digital shares opened down 11 per cent on news of the arrests. (RTHK/AFP/Reuters)

______________________________