Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Sports Park holds counterterrorism drill with 400 officers

Hong Kong’s soon-to-open Kai Tak Sports Park has held its first counterterrorism drill, as authorities mobilised 400 officers to deal with four armed assailants simulating an attack on a football match.

The mock assault on the 5,000-seat Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground on Tuesday involved disciplined services and government personnel, who were tasked with protecting members of the public in the stands.

“Prevention is very important. Current terrorism trends are still complicated and ever-changing, while many large-scale events and crowded locations have become targets this year,” said Peter Leung Wai-ki, senior superintendent of the Interdepartmental Counterterrorism Unit.

He said public participation was essential in such drills and the unit had plans to involve more residents from all walks of life.

As part of the simulation, which was code-named “Wisdomlight”, four terrorists rose from their seats to shoot and stab members of the audience.

The crowd was made up of hundreds of volunteers recruited from various youth groups under the city’s disciplined forces and community organisations.