A man in Taiwan’s Hsinchu County has been arrested after allegedly sending a bomb threat through Taiwan High Speed Rail’s online customer service system while he was at work.
The incident happened on April 9, when the man, identified by his surname Lin, reportedly used a company computer to access the railway operator’s intelligent customer service platform. He allegedly left threatening messages claiming that there was a bomb on the high-speed rail system.
The message immediately raised concerns over the safety of passengers, trains and stations. Taiwan High Speed Rail subsequently contacted the police and filed a complaint, prompting railway police to launch an investigation to trace the source of the threatening message.
Officers eventually located Lin at his residence and arrested him. Police also seized electronic devices, including his mobile phone and computer, as part of the investigation. The case was later handed over to prosecutors for further action.
Prosecutors in Taoyuan determined that Lin had allegedly intended to disrupt railway personnel from carrying out their duties by sending the threatening messages. He has since been charged under relevant provisions of Taiwan’s Railway Act.
Although no actual bomb was reported in the incident, authorities treated the threat seriously given the potential risk to public safety. Bomb threats involving public transport can trigger immediate security measures and investigations, even when no explosive device is ultimately found.
The case serves as another reminder that threatening messages made online or through customer service platforms can have serious consequences, particularly when they involve critical public transport infrastructure.
