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Suspect arrested over Hong Kong acid attack
Posted: 10 January 2010 1208 hrs
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A cordoned-off street leads towards the scene of an acid attack in Hong Kong.


HONG KONG: Hong Kong police have arrested a man following an acid attack that left 30 people injured, police said Sunday, the latest in a string of similar incidents that have terrorised the city.

The suspect, who is ethnic Chinese and in his 30s, was taken into custody after police spotted him on the rooftop of a building next to the scene of Saturday night's attack, a police spokesman said.

"A man has been arrested in connection with this case," he told AFP.

Police also found bottles believed to contain acid that was hurled onto the busy Temple Street night market, a pedestrian shopping district frequented by tourists, he said.

Among the injured were nine tourists and a seven-year-old, the spokesman confirmed.

All the victims have since been treated in hospital and released.

Police would not say if the man taken into custody is connected to five previous acid attacks in Hong Kong since late 2008.

"That is now being investigated but we can't say if he is connected to the other cases," the spokesman said.

Three attacks took place in densely populated Mong Kok, a shopping district near the scene of Saturday night's attack.

Last month six people were injured when a bottle of acid was hurled down a street in Causeway Bay, another shopping hub which was packed with people celebrating the Hong Kong football team's victory over Japan in the East Asian Games final.

- AFP/yb