HCM CITY — The HCM City police have launched criminal proceedings against seven people after seizing TNT explosives during a raid.

Four are being held on suspicion of conducting terrorist activities aimed at overthrowing the people’s administration, and three others in connection with the illegal trading of explosives.

The information was released by the force at a press conference in the city on July 5.

According to Major General Phan Anh Minh, Deputy Chief of the city’s Police, a big explosion occurred on June 20 at a police station in Tân Bình District, injuring one officer and damaging property.

After more than 10 days investigating, the city’s police, in coordination with their counterparts from the neighbouring province of Đồng Nai, arrested seven suspects.

They seized nearly 10kg of TNT explosives, as well as other materials used to make bombs, used for similar attacks.

After his arrest, Nguyễn Tuấn Thanh – born in 1990 –  is alleged to have confessed that his father Nguyễn Khanh – born in 1964 and residing in Trảng Bom District, Đồng Nai Province – told him to make explosives with remote activation detonators.

Police say both admitted to having close relationships with Ngô Hùng, the self-proclaimed commander-in-chief of the Việt Nguyễn dynasty, currently living in the US.

Hùng appointed Khanh as Governor of the Đồng Nai autonomous region and Thanh as Major General. Afterwards, Hùng transferred VNĐ120 million (US$5,214) to Khanh and assigned him to organise the production of explosives which would be detonated at police stations.

It is alleged that following Hùng’s order, Khanh assigned his nephew, Dương Bá Giang – born in 1971 and residing in Đồng Nai Province – to make the explosives. Thanh was responsible for supporting Giang.

Police say after receiving two bombs created by Giang, Khanh handed them to Vũ Hoàng Nam – born in 1996 and living in Tân Bình District, HCM City – and asked him to detonate them at police stations. 

On June 20, Nam is accused of throwing two bombs into the police station at Ward 12 in Tân Bình District, injuring himself in the process. 

Khanh allegedly gave another bomb to Nguyễn Xuân Phương – born in 1988, residing in Biên Hòa District, Đồng Nai Povince – and asked him to create a blast at Tam Hiệp police station in Biên Hòa District.

But police say Phương left the bomb in a deserted location, falsely reporting back to Khanh that he had successfully planted it but that it may have failed to blast.

Khanh told the police that he bought explosives from a group of people in Đắk Mil District, Đắk Nông Province. On the basis of this, the police arrested three more suspects.

However, those arrested have told police they did not know Khanh would use the explosives for terrorist purposes. According to the investigation authorities, the reactionary Việt Nguyễn dynasty group has enlisted several people to disturb public order in HCM City, filming and posting the incidents on social networks, with many further events planned.

The police are expanding the investigation and hope to arrest more suspects.

Speaking at the press conference, Politburo member and Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyễn Thiện Nhân asked the police to continue collecting more evidence relating to the case, as well as coordinating with other countries to prevent terrorism.

He urged relevant agencies to increase communications to raise public awareness of legal obedience and spread a thorough understanding of the Party’s and State’s policies to promptly detect and prevent terrorist plots. — VNS