Fourteen people have been on trial in Hong Kong since Monday under an anti-terrorism law over their alleged involvement in a bomb attack on police officers during pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Prosecutor Edward Lau accused the 14 defendants on Monday of planning to plant two bombs to kill police officers along the route of the rally organized to mark International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2019.
The defendants, believed to be members of a group of radical protesters called the “Dragon Slayers,” had planned to raid stores to lure police, according to prosecutors.
“The group planned to confiscate police weapons for their own use after the officers were killed,” Mr Lau said.
The attack did not take place.
Thousands of people have been arrested and charged for their participation in massive and sometimes violent protests that began in 2019 demanding greater autonomy from Beijing's power.
Since suppressing protests in 2020, Hong Kong authorities have passed a series of laws to target activists, pro-democracy politicians and even ordinary citizens.
Beijing also passed a sweeping national security law in 2020 to suppress dissent.
Perpetuity risk
The trial, which began on Monday, is the first under the anti-terrorism law passed in 2002.
Ten of the 14 defendants face two charges that carry life imprisonment: “bombing prescribed objects” under the Anti-Terrorism Act and “conspiracy to murder police officers” under Hong Kong's criminal law.
One of the ten people faces an additional charge under the Anti-Terrorism Act for financing these acts, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
Eight of the defendants are also charged with various offenses relating to the possession and manufacture of explosives, firearms and ammunition, some of which carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
With the exception of one woman who was implicated in the case just last year, all of the defendants have already spent more than two years behind bars.
The process is expected to take more than two months.
Between 2019 and the end of 2023, more than 11,200 people were arrested and nearly 3,000 charged in connection with their participation in pro-democracy protests.
In January, Hong Kong's government announced plans to create a new national security law that would cover additional crimes, including treason and espionage.