In what could prove to be a major breakthrough in the investigation into the attempted assasination of President Chen Shui-bian (
The three people were identified as Yeh Ho-chiang (
According to the police, Yeh, Chen and Huang made only a nominal effort to conceal their factory. When the officers arrived, the suspects did not make any attempt to close the door of the factory or to conceal the ammunition and weapons, which were clearly visible and scattered throughout the premises.
The police quoted Yeh -- the alleged mastermind of the group -- as saying that the homemade pistols were sold for NT$50,000 apiece; while homemade ammunition was sold for NT$400 per round, but the buyer must buy at least 30 rounds per purchase.
Yeh told the police that all three men used to be lathe workers. However, they decided to begin their illegal business to earn more money last year, and had sold more than 60 pistols and more than 10,000 bullets.
Tainan Chief Prosecutor Kuo Chen-ni (
"The bullets they produced match the two bullets that injured President Chen Shui-bian and Vice President Annette Lu (
In the meantime, Kuo said that the police had arrested three suspects, Ho Dun-ching (
However, the suspects refused to reveal to law enforcement officers where they had obtained their bullets.
Yesterday, prosecutors officially indicted the trio for possession of illegal firearms.
"Although we indicted them, it does not mean they are directly related to the assassination attempt," Kuo said.
One of the six men must have some useful information, she said.
"That is what we are trying to figure out," she added.
The US government has signed defense cooperation agreements with Japan and the Philippines to boost the deterrence capabilities of countries in the first island chain, a report by the National Security Bureau (NSB) showed. The main countries on the first island chain include the two nations and Taiwan. The bureau is to present the report at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee tomorrow. The US military has deployed Typhon missile systems to Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefecture and Zambales province in the Philippines during their joint military exercises. It has also installed NMESIS anti-ship systems in Japan’s Okinawa
TRAGEDY STRIKES TAIPEI: The suspect died after falling off a building after he threw smoke grenades into Taipei Main Station and went on a killing spree in Zhongshan A 27-year-old suspect allegedly threw smoke grenades in Taipei Main Station and then proceeded to Zhongshan MRT Station in a random killing spree that resulted in the death of the suspect and two other civilians, and seven injured, including one in critical condition, as of press time last night. The suspect, identified as a man surnamed Chang Wen (張文), allegedly began the attack at Taipei Main Station, the Taipei Fire Department said, adding that it received a report at 5:24pm that smoke grenades had been thrown in the station. One man in his 50s was rushed to hospital after a cardiac arrest
PUBLIC SAFETY: The premier said that security would be tightened in transport hubs, while President Lai commended the public for their bravery The government is to deploy more police, including rapid response units, in crowded public areas to ensure a swift response to any threats, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday after a knife attack killed three people and injured 11 in Taipei the previous day. Lai made the remarks following a briefing by the National Police Agency on the progress of the investigation, saying that the attack underscored the importance of cooperation in public security between the central and local governments. The attack unfolded in the early evening on Friday around Taipei Main Station’s M7 exit and later near the Taipei MRT’s Zhongshan
ON ALERT: Taiwan’s partners would issue warnings if China attempted to use Interpol to target Taiwanese, and the global body has mechanisms to prevent it, an official said China has stationed two to four people specializing in Taiwan affairs at its embassies in several democratic countries to monitor and harass Taiwanese, actions that the host nations would not tolerate, National Security Bureau (NSB) Director-General Tsai Ming-yen (蔡明彥) said yesterday. Tsai made the comments at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, which asked him and Minister of National Defense Wellington Koo (顧立雄) to report on potential conflicts in the Taiwan Strait and military preparedness. Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Michelle Lin (林楚茵) expressed concern that Beijing has posted personnel from China’s Taiwan Affairs Office to its
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