Police have arrested 13 people for suspected manslaughter in a criminal investigation into last week’s disaster, and the anti-corruption body has also arrested 12 people in a probe into possible graft. It is unclear if any of those people were arrested on both counts.

Investigators have combed all but two of the seven burnt-out towers, finding bodies of residents in stairwells and on rooftops, trapped as they tried to flee the flames. Around 30 people are still missing. With pockets of public anger simmering, some groups have called for more transparency and accountability, amid warnings from Beijing and Hong Kong that any attempts to politicize the disaster would be severely punished.

Asked about the detention of a student from one of the groups, and two others who media reported are being investigated for possible sedition, Lee said.

“I will not tolerate any crimes, particularly crimes that exploit the tragedy that we are facing now,” He did not comment on the specific cases. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both issued statements criticising the reported arrests.

“Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the causes of the devastating fire rather than silencing those who ask legitimate questions,” Amnesty International said. China’s national security office has warned individuals against using the disaster to “plunge Hong Kong back into the chaos” of 2019, when massive pro-democracy protests challenged Beijing and triggered a political crisis.

–Reuters–