A scooter gang viciously attacked and injured 12 teenagers -- three critically -- while on a violent joyride in Taipei County's Tucheng (土城) City early yesterday morning, police said.
The gang of more than 20 scooter-riding thugs, who brandished large knives and baseball bats, went after most of their hapless victims as they were barbecuing for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Four teens have been taken into custody in connection with the attacks.
"Police identified some of the criminals by their scooter plate numbers and arrested four teenagers in the afternoon," said director of Tucheng Police Bureau Chang Fu-chong (
PHOTO: LIN CHUN-HUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Chang said police attempted to find other suspects at their Tucheng City homes, but their families claimed they had not returned home since the time of the attacks.
The attacks occurred around 1am yesterday at parks, a gas station, in front of houses and near schools in Tucheng City as the gang rode around spreading mayhem. The three critically wounded victims suffered serious brain injuries, and others were wounded on their arms, hands and faces.
Family members of victims who gathered at a hospital yesterday condemned the assailant's cruel attacks to reporters. One victim's mother said her son's hand was almost severed by the slashing bullies.
According to victims who were enjoying the holiday by barbecuing in a park, the gang members suddenly stopped their scooters and rushed after them with knives and a baseball bat. The victims heard the criminals say, "We hit the wrong person," before they left.
Another victim told police he and his friends were barbecuing in front of a scooter-repair shop, when the gang rushed in, slashed them with knives and wrecked the shop.
Police said the perpetrators sped their scooters toward Sanshia (三峽) Township, a mountainous area of the county, after their violent spree.
Police patrols were increased for last night's Mid-Autumn Festival.
Scooter gangs have been rampant in Taiwan for years. They are notorious for violently attacking victims at random, instilling such fear that residents in some areas now avoid taking to the streets late at night.
Police have called on parents to pay more attention to their teens' behavior and to intervene if they suspect they might be a part of a scooter gang.
NEXT GENERATION: The four plants in the Central Taiwan Science Park, designated Fab 25, would consist of four 1.4-nanometer wafer manufacturing plants, TSMC said Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) plans to begin construction of four new plants later this year, with the aim to officially launch production of 2-nanometer semiconductor wafers by late 2028, Central Taiwan Science Park Bureau director-general Hsu Maw-shin (許茂新) said. Hsu made the announcement at an event on Friday evening celebrating the Central Taiwan Science Park’s 22nd anniversary. The second phase of the park’s expansion would commence with the initial construction of water detention ponds and other structures aimed at soil and water conservation, Hsu said. TSMC has officially leased the land, with the Central Taiwan Science Park having handed over the
The Philippines is working behind the scenes to enhance its defensive cooperation with Taiwan, the Washington Post said in a report published on Monday. “It would be hiding from the obvious to say that Taiwan’s security will not affect us,” Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilbert Teodoro Jr told the paper in an interview on Thursday last week. Although there has been no formal change to the Philippines’ diplomatic stance on recognizing Taiwan, Manila is increasingly concerned about Chinese encroachment in the South China Sea, the report said. The number of Chinese vessels in the seas around the Philippines, as well as Chinese
AUKUS: The Australian Ambassador to the US said his country is working with the Pentagon and he is confident that submarine issues will be resolved Australian Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd on Friday said that if Taiwan were to fall to China’s occupation, it would unleash China’s military capacities and capabilities more broadly. He also said his country is working with the Pentagon on the US Department of Defense’s review of the AUKUS submarine project and is confident that all issues raised will be resolved. Rudd, who served as Australian prime minister from 2007 to 2010 and for three months in 2013, made the remarks at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado and stressed the longstanding US-Australia alliance and his close relationship with the US Undersecretary
‘WORLD WAR III’: Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said the aid would inflame tensions, but her amendment was rejected 421 votes against six The US House of Representatives on Friday passed the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal 2026, which includes US$500 million for Taiwan. The bill, which totals US$831.5 billion in discretionary spending, passed in a 221-209 vote. According to the bill, the funds for Taiwan would be administered by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency and would remain available through Sept. 30, 2027, for the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative. The legislation authorizes the US Secretary of Defense, with the agreement of the US Secretary of State, to use the funds to assist Taiwan in procuring defense articles and services, and military training. Republican Representative
RSS