Police Raid Apple Daily Building, Newsroom

Scores of police officers on Monday conducted a raid at the Apple Daily building, following the arrest of its founder Jimmy Lai under the national security law.

Television footage showed a large number of police officers entering the building of the pro-democracy newspaper in Tseung Kwan O.

Steve Li, a senior superintendent of the police’s national security department, was also at the scene.

In a tweet, a colleague of Lai’s said police were executing a search warrant and had entered the newsroom located on the second floor of the building.

Staff of the daily say they have been sent messages not to go to the office, and to turn back if they were on their way.

The footage that was being beamed from inside the newsroom showed police officers going through some documents on desks.

A staff member then urged them to stop, saying it was unclear what the warrant is about, but the officers were seen directing them to speak to their superior, as they were only executing an order.

As the raid was in progress, footage showed a handcuffed Lai being brought to the office by officers.

In a social media posted soon after the operation started, police said they were searching a building in Tseung Kwan O to investigate crime related to national security. They also added that they have shown and explained the contents of the court warrant to the staff.

Steve Li, a senior superintendent of the police’s national security department, later told the media present outside the Apple Daily building that the raid could involve news material.

Earlier in the day Lai was taken away from his home in Ho Man Tin and reports said two of Lai’s sons, and some other Apple Daily staff were also arrested.

Police have also raided the Four Seasons Restaurant in Central, which is run by one of Lai’s arrested sons Ian.

______________________________