Taiwan police today arrested two men on suspicion of setting explosive devices on a high-speed train that prompted the evacuation of more than 600 passengers, local media reported.
The arrests followed a bomb scare on Friday when two unattended suitcases containing petrol linked to a clock were
found on board a train bound for the capital Taipei.
The duo, who are brothers identified only by their surname Lai, were separately arrested at their home in central
Taichung city, the TVBS cable news network said.
It said the suspects were being taken to Taipei for further investigation.
No police were immediately available for comment.
Train operator Taiwan High Speed Rail Corp on Friday said it had alerted police after spotting two unattended cases with a “strong odour” in a bathroom in train 616 bound for Taipei.
It evacuated passengers when the train arrived at Taoyuan station near Taipei, and police removed the bags for
investigation.
Passengers were later put on another train to continue their journeys.
Officers searched the train for evidence and the platform for Taipei-bound trains was temporarily closed during the
removal of the suitcases, the company said.
It said it had not received any threats prior to the incident and added that it was the first time an evacuation
was carried out over unidentified objects found on one of its trains.
Also on Friday, two other cases containing petrol, two canisters and a clock were found in lawmaker Lu Chia-chen’s
office in New Taipei city, leading to the bomb squad and emergency services being called.
Police said they suspected the two incidents were linked as the explosive devices found in both were similar.
Local media said police had collected some fingerprints from a sport utility vehicle in Taoyuan that might have been used in the crime.
———————–(AFP)