TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Police on Sunday (Nov. 17) arrested a man for assaulting a woman and threatening other passengers with a dagger on a Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR) train.
On Saturday, a man surnamed Chen (陳) punched a woman surnamed Liu (劉) and stabbed a tray table with a 30 cm dagger. Police discovered Chen fled Taipei Station, changing his appearance three times to evade capture.
Following leads, authorities apprehended Chen in Nantou on Sunday. He will be transferred to the Taipei District Prosecutors' Office on Monday on charges including public intimidation.
At a press conference Monday, the National Police Agency's Railway Police Bureau Taipei Branch said the situation began as a minor passenger dispute but escalated into a public security incident due to the suspect's loss of control.
During questioning, Chen told police he lives alone in Nantou and did not provide further details about the incident. He said he carried the knife for self-defense.
Chen will face charges under the Criminal Code for threatening and endangering public safety, assault, and malicious mischief. In addition, security measures and police presence will be increased across THSR trains to ensure passenger safety.
The Railway Police Bureau said that at 11:43 a.m. on Saturday, they received a report that passengers on THSR train No. 0814 got into an argument, per Business Today. Liu said that when the train stopped at Miaoli Station, Chen was sitting cross-legged on the floor at the carriage entrance, blocking her way.
Liu stepped over Chen to sit in an open seat in the 10th carriage, after which Chen shouted at her and allegedly punched her in the cheek. When the train passed between Banqiao and Taipei, Chen went to Liu's carriage to argue with her again.
During the dispute, other passengers tried to calm Chen, but he took out a 30-cm-long knife from his backpack and stabbed the tray table.

