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Police name suspect in train explosion

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-07-08
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Police said a 55-year-old victim was the chief suspect in

The National Policy Agency said a 55-year-old victim was the chief suspect in the Taipei Songshan station train explosion within 24 hours of the event Friday. (Photo courtesy of the National Policy Agency)

The National Policy Agency said a 55-year-old victim was the chief suspect in the Taipei Songshan station train explosion within 24 hours of the event Friday. (Photo courtesy of the National Policy Agency)

the Taipei Songshan station train explosion within 24 hours of the event Friday.

The man, named as Lin Ying-chang, was one of 25 people injured when a crude home-made explosive was detonated on a train just before entering the station around 10 p.m. Thursday after a journey from Hsinchu City.

The man was staying at the intensive care unit at the Taipei Medical University Hospital, so the authorities had been unable to question him thoroughly due to the severity of his injuries, the Railway Police said at a 6 p.m. news conference Friday. The authorities said they had come to accept that Lin acted alone.     [FULL  STORTY]

3 deaths, 142 injuries during typhoon Nepartak onslaught

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/07/08
By: Chiu Po-sheng and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, July 8 (CNA) Three people have died and 142 others have been injured as

Taitung County

Taitung County

typhoon Nepartak brought heavy rain and strong winds to southeastern Taiwan early Friday, according to government data.

Those killed include a man who drowned in Chishingtan lake in Hualien County, a soldier found dead after falling into the sea on Dongyin Islet of the Penghu archipelago, and a 71 year-old woman who died from severe wounds after being hit by a falling wardrobe, the data published in the Emergency Management Information Cloud showed.

The statistics compiled by the National Fire Agency also indicated that a total of 142 people were injured during the onslaught of Nepartak, which pummeled much of Taiwan with strong gusts and heavy rain.     [FULL  STORY]

Police call train explosion major criminal act, rule out terrorism

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/07/08
By: Christie Chen and Liu Chien-pang

Taipei, July 8 (CNA) Taiwan authorities on Friday characterized the commuter train

Wang Pao-chang (left), chief of the Railway Police Bureau's Taipei branch.

Wang Pao-chang (left), chief of the Railway Police Bureau’s Taipei branch.

explosion in Taipei as a major criminal act and said preliminary findings have ruled out the possibility of a terrorist attack.

Terrorist attacks in the past have been associated with political or religious fanaticism, but authorities have not received such intelligence prior to the attack, nor have any groups or individuals claimed responsibility for the explosion since it occurred late Thursday, Wang Pao-chang (王寶章), chief of the Railway Police Bureau’s Taipei branch, said in a press conference.

“We have preliminarily ruled out terrorism and are treating this as a sporadic major criminal case,” Wang said.     [FULL  STORY]

Bus service in Taipei region to resume after 9 a.m.

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/07/08

Taipei, July 8 (CNA) The Taipei Metro will operate Friday — albeit with reduced 201607080006t0001frequency — and bus service in both Taipei and New Taipei Cities will also be resumed gradually after 9 a.m., according to the authorities.

The decision to resume the bus service earlier than planned was made after taking into consideration the wind and rain conditions in the Taipei region, said the Taipei City’s department of transportation.

An announcement late Thursday said all bus service on Friday was to be canceled till midday.     [FULL  STORY]

24 injured by blast on train in Taipei

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-07-08
By: Sophia Yang, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

24 passengers have been injured in a possible bomb blast when the Keelung-bound 6768047commuter train was moving towards Songshan Railway Station around 10 pm Thursday. The fire had been extinguished and the injured were sent to six hospitals nearby. Police officers do not rule out the probability of terror attack.

According to the Chinese-language Apple Daily, a witness said a middle-aged man came into one carriage of the train and placed a small package on luggage rack, which was later believed to have caused this explosion.

Other witnesses on the scene reported hearing a loud explosion before flames engulfed the carriage of a moving train bound west.

National Police Agency Director General Chen Kuo-en said late Thursday that the suspected explosive device is 15-20 cm long and resembles a firecracker.     [FULL  STORY]

Security tightened after train explosion

Taiwan News
Date: 2016-07-08
By: Taiwan News, Staff Writer

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications said early Friday morning that it 6768082has asked related authorities to tighten security measures on the nation’s transportation networks, including railway, highway systems and at airports and seaports.

The instruction was made in the wake of a commuter train explosion in Taipei, which has injured 25 people, with two of them in serious condition.

The explosion is suspected to have been caused by a 20-centimeter-long pre-made explosives found at the scene. National Police Agency Director General Chen Kuo-en said the agency is on the lookout for a suspect. Meanwhile, people should not panic, as the agency has taken hold and the situation is stable, he said. There has been no information to confirm the explosion was a terrorist attack.     [FULL  STORY]

Brace for heavy Nepartak rain: CWB

The China Post
Date: July 8, 2016
By: Stephanie Chao

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Torrential and heavy rain warnings were issued islandwide by the

A firefighter explains evacuation plans to a family in Taoyuan's Fuxing District on Thursday. The residents of 10 neighborhoods in the district have been moved to safe locations as part of preventative evacuations on Thursday. (CNA)

A firefighter explains evacuation plans to a family in Taoyuan’s Fuxing District on Thursday. The residents of 10 neighborhoods in the district have been moved to safe locations as part of preventative evacuations on Thursday. (CNA)

Central Weather Bureau (CWB) Thursday, urging residents to brace for heavy rainfall as Super Typhoon Nepartak was to make landfall Friday.

Local governments islandwide have suspended classes and work Friday, while outlying Lienchiang County and Kinmen County will continue business as usual before noon, according to the Directorate-General of Personnel Administration of the Executive Yuan.

As of 5 p.m., Super Typhoon Nepartak was centered 220 kilometers east-southeast of Taitung, moving at 17-14 kph in a west-northwesterly direction, according to the CWB. With a radius of 200 km, the storm was carrying maximum sustained winds of 198 kph, with gusts of up to 245 kph, it said.     [FULL  STORY]

Typhoon Nepartak makes landfall; sustained downpours expected

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2016/07/08

201607080003t0001A scene in Taitung after the storm makes landfall early Friday
Taipei, July 8 (CNA) Typhoon Nepartak made landfall in southeastern Taiwan’s Taitung County at 5:50 a.m. Friday, pummeling much of Taiwan with strong gusts and heavy rain, the Central Weather Bureau said.

The typhoon could linger around Taiwan for up to eight hours as it slowly makes its way toward southern China, the bureau said, warning the public throughout the country to prepare for heavy downpours.     [FULL  STORY]

BREAKING: Explosion at Taiwan Train Station, 21 Injured

Authorities are trying to determine the cause of the explosion.

The News Lens
Date: 2016/07/07
By: J. Michael Cole

As many as 21 people were injured in an explosion on board a train at the

Photo Credit:翻攝自爆料公社

Photo Credit:翻攝自爆料公社

Songshan Train Station in Taipei at 9:59 pm on July 7.

The Taipei City Fire Department said it dispatched dispatched 12 fire engines, 11 ambulances and 66 rescue personnel to the scene. All injured passengers have been sent to hospital. One of the injured, a 24-year-old man, suffered second-degree burns to his limbs. All other injuries were reportedly minor.

The Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) said a loud explosion was heard in car no. 6 as the train was leaving the station, sparking chaos. It immediately evacuated the passengers and contacted the fire department, gas companies, and law enforcement authorities.     [FULL  STORY]