Police yesterday said that they had plans in place to deal with any potential mobster or spy activities at the demonstration in front of the Presidential Office.
"We received reliable tips that local gangsters may be involved in the rally, so we have to pay attention to that and take all necessary precautionary measures," said Wang Cho-chiun (
PHOTO: LIAO CHEN-HUI, TAIPEI TIMES
Yu Yi-hsien (
PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES
The informant told the police that many pan-blue camp officials had recognized gangsters in the crowd during the protest at the Central Election Committee on Friday. The gangsters were allegedly planning to create trouble at yesterday's rally.
"We are still trying to confirm the tips and trying to figure out whether these gangsters were paid to participate," Yu said. "If so, who is their employer?"
Another source told police that China may send spies to inflame people's emotions by creating minor incidents during the rally.
"We have not been able to substantiate any of the claims about espionage. Our investigation did not reveal any sign that Chinese spies are involved," Yu said.
In an incident at the People First Party (PFP) headquarters on Friday, two rioters lit a petrol bomb made from a beer bottle in front of the building, then dropped the bottle and ran away. The flames were extinguished by PFP officials.
The police administration's First Peace Preservation Corp yesterday sent 200 officers to guard the Democratic Progressive Party's headquarters. Two officers and a police vehicle patrolling the area every hour were assigned to the PFP headquarters.
As of press time yesterday, no injuries or gangster activity had been reported at the protest at the Presidential Office.
The police did arrest two teenagers who brought samurai swords into the crowd. The teenagers were being questioned by authorities last night.
According to Yu, the Taipei City Police Department assigned 4,600 officers to maintain public order at the rally. The National Police Administration assigned another 4,000 officers to help.
"Everything will be under control, if the crowd stays calm," Yu said.
Three Taiwanese airlines have prohibited passengers from packing Bluetooth earbuds and their charger cases in checked luggage. EVA Air and Uni Air said that Bluetooth earbuds and charger cases are categorized as portable electronic devices, which should be switched off if they are placed in checked luggage based on international aviation safety regulations. They must not be in standby or sleep mode. However, as charging would continue when earbuds are placed in the charger cases, which would contravene international aviation regulations, their cases must be carried as hand luggage, they said. Tigerair Taiwan said that earbud charger cases are equipped
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
RSS