TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Two Vietnamese workers who were caught killing pigeons and sparrows with a slingshot told police they just wanted to gain more followers on social media, reports said Saturday (Jan. 23).

Police in Changhua County’s Xihu Township found out about their behavior when they discovered footage of the cruel killings on the video-sharing platform TikTok, CNA reported.

Analyzing the videos, police located the men in Puyan Township, while the background music suggested they were probably foreign workers. On Friday (Jan. 22), police invited two Vietnamese citizens surnamed Nguyen to explain the videos at the precinct.

The two employees of a local hardware factory said they had wanted to attract more viewers to their TikTok account. They have organized three “shootings” since last September but say they do not know how many birds were killed.

The two will be prosecuted for violating the Animal Protection Act, police said.