Police in Yilan’s Luodong district have arrested a man suspected of repeatedly wandering around a busy commercial area while carrying a long knife, sparking alarm among residents after multiple late-night sightings.
The latest incident occurred at around 4am on May 1 along Zhongzheng Road, where witnesses reported seeing a man roaming the streets while holding what appeared to be a long blade. The area is close to Luodong Night Market and surrounded by shops, intensifying public concern over safety.
According to residents, the same individual had allegedly been seen on April 27 behaving in a similar manner, loitering near a shopfront and later entering a residential building. Police were called at the time, but the suspect managed to evade capture before officers arrived.
Business owners in the vicinity said they were deeply unsettled by the repeated incidents, especially given the presence of families and children in the area. Some described fear over potential random attacks in the densely populated commercial zone.
On the morning of May 1, police conducted a large-scale operation, deploying officers with protective gear to search the building floor by floor. The suspect was eventually located and arrested without further incident before being taken back to the station.
Luodong Police said preliminary investigations suggest the man may have been emotionally distressed due to relationship issues, which allegedly contributed to his erratic behaviour and knife-carrying incidents. Authorities are continuing to investigate his background and motive.
