Police arrested a 22-year-old man after he allegedly stabbed a restaurant customer in Kowloon’s Wong Tai Sin early on Sunday night in what appears to have been a totally random attack.
The man, whose surname is Yip, went to a cha chaan teng on Tai Shing Street in Wong Tai Sin at 6:30pm and asked a female staff member in the kitchen to give him a knife, Oriental Daily reported. The 51-year-old woman refused and hid the knives away.
Yip began walking toward the restaurant’s exit after about two minutes, then suddenly pulled out a knife of his own and stabbed a 49-year-old male customer surnamed Ho on his right arm. Mr Ho, who had only just walked into the restaurant, remained conscious during the attack and his injuries were not serious.
The entire incident was captured by a surveillance camera in the restaurant, Sing Tao Daily reported.
After the attack Yip casually walked away while the restaurant owner called the police. He then went to a nearby supermarket for 10 minutes, crossed Tai Shing Street and tried to get into a private vehicle parked outside Morse Park. The driver chased him away.
Police armed with batons arrived and urged Yip to drop the knife. When he did not comply some officers appeared to be ready to draw their guns, according to another video circulated on social media, news website HK01.com reported. However, the police were able to subdue Yip and force him onto the ground.
Yip is facing a possible charge of wounding. Police are still investigating his motives and will undertake checks on his mental health and family background.