Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced on the 20th that, to prevent a recurrence of random attacks, the city's police force will be fully upgraded immediately. Police will increase patrols and spot checks in shopping districts and densely populated areas.
On the evening of the 19th, random attacks occurred near Taipei Main Station and Taipei Metro Zhongshan Station, resulting in four deaths, including the perpetrator. Chiang Wan-an made the above statement after participating in a meeting of the Taipei City Government's emergency response task force on the 20th.
Chiang Wan-an explained that he has instructed the police department and relevant units to comprehensively enhance security in densely populated areas throughout the city, especially Taipei Main Station, Zhongshan shopping district, Ximending, and Xinyi District. Increased fully armed police presence will be deployed, and spot checks will be strengthened on weekends and at night. Drills targeting indiscriminate attacks will also be conducted at MRT stations.
In addition, police will also strengthen security for large-scale events such as concerts. During the New Year's Eve celebrations, police planned to deploy special agents, bomb disposal vehicles, and bomb-sniffing dogs to the scene, conduct site inspections, and also intended to request additional security personnel from the Taiwan authorities.
Regarding compensation for injuries and deaths, Chiang Wan-an revealed that the Taipei City Government has established a contact point with the Crime Victims Protection Association to assist the injured and the families of the deceased in applying for compensation. The Taipei Metro and the shopping mall where the incident occurred are also applying for insurance compensation; the Taipei Metro has stated that it will pay the deceased NT$5 million in insurance compensation. For the 57-year-old citizen who was stabbed and seriously injured while trying to stop the assailant and later died in hospital, the Taipei City Government will provide lenient and generous compensation and subsequent benefits.
On the same day, the Taiwan authorities' National Police Agency and the Taipei City Police Department held separate press conferences to announce relevant details of the case. Preliminary police investigations indicate that the incident was a premeditated, solo, random attack, initially ruling out the possibility of terrorism. (End)
