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China critic Jimmy Lai’s home firebombed in Hong Kong

January 12, 2015 10:59 am | Updated November 16, 2021 05:54 pm IST - HONG KONG

The home and former offices of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, an outspoken critic of China, who also played a prominent role in large pro-democracy protests in 2014, were firebombed early on Monday, a spokesman said.

The first attack took place around 1:30 a.m. local time when an unknown car reversed up to Mr. Lai's house and threw an object that exploded into flames when it hit the gates. About 20 minutes later, one or two other incendiary devices were thrown at the gates of Next Media Ltd.

"This is a continual effort to try to intimidate the press in Hong Kong," said Next Media spokesman Mark Simon. "This is raw and pure intimidation."

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Hong Kong police confirmed they are looking into two incidents, one at a residence on Kadoorie Avenue in Kowloon and one at the offices of Next Media.

He was arrested for refusing to leave a pro-democracy protest site in central Hong Kong in December as police cleared protesters who had shut major thoroughfares in the city for two-and-a-half months.

Mr. Lai's home has been attacked before, including being rammed by a car and having a machete, axe, and threatening messages left in his driveway.

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