Hong Kong Police Arrest Three Over Missing Fire-Safety Parts in 48 Lifts

Hong Kong police arrested a 79-year-old director and two registered lift engineers from Taizoom Elevator on suspicion of deception after the company installed fire-resistant doors in 48 lifts without required door frame components. [1]

Hong Kong Lift Safety Arrests

Hong Kong police have arrested a director and two registered lift engineers on suspicion of deception in connection with faulty replacement works on 48 lifts at two housing estates. [1] A source said the three suspects were from Taizoom Elevator, which replaced nine lifts at Tsui Ping (North) Estate in Kwun Tong and 39 lifts at Pok Hong Estate in Sha Tin. [1] One of the suspects was a 79-year-old director and shareholder of Taizoom. [1] The other two were registered lift engineers, aged 63 and 82, respectively. [1] The arrests came a day after the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department said its inspection, triggered by a complaint, found that Taizoom had installed fire-resistant doors without the required door frame components at the two estates. [1] The department said the contractor had submitted a fire-resisting rating certificate and claimed it had completed the works. [1] These details emerged from an investigation into the missing components that were needed for the fire-resistant doors to function as certified. [1]

Incheon Knife Attack Suspect Named

South Korean police on Friday released the identity of a suspect accused of carrying out a knife attack at a major commercial complex in Incheon that injured eight people earlier this week. [3] The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency released the suspect's name, Choi Chung-rak, his age of 59, and his mugshot after holding a committee meeting to review whether to publicly disclose his personal information. [3] The police said the panel unanimously approved the release, citing the brutality of the crime, the severity of the harm caused and the availability of sufficient evidence. [3] Choi's personal information will be posted on the police agency's website from Friday through Nov. 16. [3] He is suspected of attempting to kill 10 people at the commercial complex in Incheon, about 30 kilometers west of Seoul, on Tuesday, wielding knives in both hands. [3] The attack left eight people injured, including one who remains unconscious after suffering cardiac arrest. [3] The other two people escaped unharmed. [3] During police questioning, Choi cited his dissatisfaction with medical treatment at a local hospital as the motive for the attack. [3] He reportedly has 10 prior convictions, including two for attempted murder. [3] South Korean police on Friday revealed the identity of the assailant in Incheon who seriously injured eight people in a knife attack on Tuesday. [4] The Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency disclosed the suspect’s name, age and photos on its website, identifying him as Choi Chung-rak, 59. [4] The information will remain public until Nov. 16. [4] The move comes after a seven-member police review panel unanimously approved the disclosure, citing the brutality of the attack, the serious harm it caused and sufficient evidence against Choi. [4] Choi, 59, is alleged to have attacked shoppers with knives strapped to both hands at around 1:40 p.m. as he rode an escalator between the second basement level, which houses a Homeplus supermarket, and the second floor. [4] Ten people were attacked in the incident, with eight left injured, including a 19-year-old woman who remains unconscious. [4] The other two were practically unharmed. [4] Choi told investigators he was angry with a hospital where he had been treated for a skin condition. [4] He said the hospital had also reported him to police, leading to an investigation, and claimed the attack was to draw media attention to his complaint. [4] Choi reportedly has 10 prior convictions resulting in fines or heavier penalties, including two for attempted murder. [4]

Libya Executions Warning

Human Rights Watch has warned that at least 50 detainees face imminent execution at Gernada military prison in eastern Libya, after forces led by Khalifa Haftar reportedly executed at least 31 people following military trials that the organisation described as seriously unfair. [2] In a statement dated 14th October, the rights organization said the Libyan Arab Armed Forces had carried out the executions since late August 2026, raising concerns about further death sentences being implemented. [2] According to HRW, the executions were the first known instances of capital punishment in Libya since 2010, ending a de facto moratorium on executions that had lasted approximately 15 years. [2] The organisation called on authorities in eastern Libya to immediately suspend the implementation of death sentences and establish a comprehensive moratorium on executions. [2] HRW reported that a military prosecutor affiliated with Haftar’s forces announced on 23rd August that ten individuals had been executed by firing squad following convictions for murder and terrorism-related offenses. [2] Human rights organisations subsequently documented at least 31 executions by 10th September, according to HRW. [2] The organisation warned that additional detainees remained at risk of execution, particularly those held at Gernada military prison, and raised concerns about the fairness of the military judicial proceedings that resulted in the death sentences. [2]

Swiss Pension Funds Cyberattack

Following a cyberattack on an external software provider, personal data at the Zurich pension fund – and possibly also that of Swiss Post – was also stolen. [5] The Swiss city of Zurich said that the pension funds and payments are still functional. [5] The attack took place at the end of September, Zurich said. [5] Ahead of a switch to a new management system, the pension fund’s data had previously been transferred. [5] The pension fund has filed a criminal complaint. [5] The fund is trying to determine exactly what information has been stolen and how many people are affected. [5] In the worst-case scenario, the data breach includes personal contact details (name, address, email, telephone number), social security number, marital status, information on partners, the IBAN number and pension-related data such as insured income and assets. [5] The administrative system used by the funds to manage assets and pay out pensions is not believed to have been affected by the attack. [5] The Swiss Post pension fund also stated this evening in a press release that it had been the victim of the attack on the software provider. [5] It is not yet clear whether policyholders’ data has been compromised. [5] In any case, pension assets and pension benefits are not at risk, according to the statement from Swiss Post. [5] However, personal data such as name, address, date of birth, social security number, contact details, email address and pension details may have been affected by the cyberattack. [5] The cyberattack has also affected other pension funds. [5] Last week, it emerged that data had also been stolen from the Bern Pension Fund and the Bern Teachers’ Insurance Fund. [5]

Broader Global Crime Context

These separate incidents illustrate ongoing crime and security issues worldwide. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] The Hong Kong case involved deception in safety-related lift works at public housing estates. [1] The Incheon attack involved a violent stabbing spree at a commercial site. [3] [4] The Libya developments concern executions following military proceedings. [2] The Swiss incident involved a data breach through an external provider affecting pension records. [5] Each case stems from distinct local circumstances reported by authorities and monitoring groups.

What to watch next: Updates on the Hong Kong Electrical and Mechanical Services Department review of the lift works, the public posting of Choi Chung-rak details through Nov. 16, and any further announcements from Human Rights Watch or Swiss pension funds on the status of their cases.