Minister of the Interior Liu Shyh-fang (劉世芳) yesterday said she does not oppose the proposal to inform the public of indiscriminate attacks through cell broadcast alerts, provided that the messages are clear to avoid causing panic or further harm.
Liu made the remarks in a meeting of the legislature’s Internal Administration Committee as lawmakers inquired officials on how to better cope with domestic attacks, after a random killing spree in downtown Taipei on Friday last week resulted in deaths of four people, including the attacker, and saw 11 injured.
The 27-year-old suspect, identified as Chang Wen (張文), jumped off a building and died while being chased by the police.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
Video footage captured by surveillance cameras showed that Yu first threw smoke grenades near Taipei Main Station, before walking to Zhongshan MRT Station and randomly stabbing people.
Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) legislators Chang Chih-lun (張智倫) and Wang Hung-wei (王鴻薇) asked if it is possible to inform members of the public about a major attack through emergency cell broadcasts as authorities do when a major earthquake or an extreme weather event occurs.
Liu said that local governments use cell broadcasts to evacuate people ahead of or during natural disasters.
While using mobile phone alerts is a good approach to rapidly disseminate security-related information, criteria in activating such a mechanism must be defined clearly to avoid panic and confusion, she said.
“Earthquake alerts are sent when seismic intensity at some regions is expected to reach a certain level. However, the suspect moved from Linsen N Road, Taipei Main Station, Zhongshan MRT Station and eventually to the Eslite Bookstore on Nanjing S Rd. If the alert was sent at the wrong time, thousands of people along this route would panic and not know what to do,” she said.
While local government officials can use cell broadcasts amid a major attack, they must ensure that residents are informed on how to evacuate under such circumstances, she said.
The investigation into the attack has found no indication of involvement by foreign forces, she said.
However, about 20 copycat cases had been reported online as of Sunday, she said, citing Criminal Investigation Bureau data.
Suspects in some of the copycat cases have been arrested and investigated by prosecutors, she added.
Lawmakers asked whether the attack will be included in the National Public Safety Guide for responding to major violent or public safety threats, and whether similar future attacks could trigger emergency text alerts to notify the public. Liu said the incident will be included in the next updated version of the guide, and if the draft receives approval, a new edition is expected to be issued next year.
National Police Agency (NPA) Director-General Chang Jung-hsin (張榮興) dismissed the allegation that the police radio communication system malfunctioned on Friday last week, saying that the equipment police use are is required to pass safety tests.
Following the suspect’s death, law enforcement and national security officials are investigating whether he was able to fund his purchases of smoke grenades through a cryptocurrency wallet.
The suspect reportedly left his job as a security guard in June last year. Prior to working for a private security firm, he was discharged from the military due to drunk driving.
His mother reportedly wired about NT$30,000 to him every three months, but it was not enough to cover his rent in Taipei, which was NT$17,000 a month.
Additional reporting by CNA
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