The Taipei City Government is stepping up patrols in Taipei Metro stations in the wake of a random knife attack on Monday night.
Four people were wounded at the Taipei Metro system's Zhongshan Station in downtown Taipei. A knife-wielding man was arrested, and the four wounded -- one man and three women -- were rushed to a nearby hospital. According to investigators, the suspect said he attacked passengers because he had been jobless for a long time and was in a “bad mood”.
The attack hit a nerve with many people in Taipei because it reminded the public of a metro knife attack more than a year ago that left four people dead and more than 20 injured.
On Tuesday, Taipei’s Department of Rapid Transit Systems said it will particularly increase patrols in areas where younger passengers are more likely to be concentrated.
Taipei Mayor Ko Wen-je said Tuesday that the current social security network cannot track people who are isolated. He also said he is considering implementing mental health screening tests to identify high-risk groups.