Taiwanese authorities are investigating a wave of online threats following last week’s deadly attack at Taipei Main Station, Zhongshan Station and the Eslite Nanxi complex, after a social media user claimed another attack would take place at Kaohsiung Station on Dec 25.
Police said the threatening messages appeared on Threads on the night of the attack on Dec 19, with one user claiming to be a “close brother” of suspect Chang Wen and alleging they were part of the same organisation. The post warned that Chang’s “unfinished mission” would be continued, naming Kaohsiung Station as the next target and threatening a larger incident on Dec 25.
Investigators said the account, registered under the username “nvlw6wyef8rc5”, was newly created and its IP address was traced to Vietnam.
Kaohsiung police, working under the direction of the Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office and in coordination with the Investigation Bureau, formed a task force and arrested a surnamed Chen, a male electrical engineering student, the following day. Authorities later determined Chen was not the original poster but had reposted the threatening message.
Chen told investigators he shared the post to “remind people to be cautious”, but prosecutors rejected the explanation, saying the repost had caused public fear. He was released on NT$50,000 bail on suspicion of threatening public safety. Police are continuing efforts to identify and arrest the original poster.
Following the threats, police significantly increased security at major transport hubs, including Kaohsiung Station, Zuoying Station and Formosa Boulevard Station, deploying metro police, security units and local precinct officers to patrol station premises and train carriages.
The Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office said multiple agencies have established a joint communications platform to share intelligence and prevent potential terrorist-style attacks. Authorities also warned the public against posting or sharing threatening content online, stressing that such actions could cause panic and undermine social stability.
Officials added that separate online comments suggesting copycat attacks in other cities, including Taichung, are also being monitored, with prosecutors nationwide ordered to activate preventive response teams.
