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HONG KONG, Jan 12 (Reuters) - The home and former offices ofHong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, an outspoken critic of Beijingwho also played a prominent role in large pro-democracy protestslast month, were firebombed early on Monday, a spokesman said.
The first attack took place around 1:30 a.m. local time(1730 GMT Sunday) when an unknown car reversed up to Lai's houseand threw an object that exploded into flames when it hit thegates. About 20 minutes later, one or two other incendiarydevices were thrown at the gates of Next Media Ltd.
"This is a continual effort to try to intimidate the pressin Hong Kong," said Next Media spokesman Mark Simon. "This israw and pure intimidation."
Hong Kong police confirmed they are looking into twoincidents, one at a residence on Kadoorie Avenue in Kowloon andone at the offices of Next Media.
Lai, who stepped down as chairman of Next Media and aspublisher of the popular, pro-democracy Apple Daily tabloid inDecember, is a well-known critic of Beijing.
He was arrested for refusing to leave a pro-democracyprotest site in central Hong Kong last month as police clearedprotesters who had shut major thoroughfares in the city fortwo-and-a-half months.
A self-made millionaire, Lai is a long-time supporter ofHong Kong's democracy movement. This is not the first time heand Next have come under attack.
In 2013, masked men torched tens of thousands of copies oftwo Apple Daily editions at distribution points.
Last year, Next said HSBC Holdings and StandardChartered had pulled millions of dollars worth ofadvertising from Apple Daily after being pressured by Beijing,decisions both banks said were commercial.
Lai's home has been attacked before, including being rammedby a car and having a machete, axe, and threatening messagesleft in his driveway.
He remains the majority shareholder in Next Media, whichpublishes Next Magazine and the Apple Daily. (Reporting by Clare Baldwin; Editing by Paul Tait)
