Suspect in MRT station attack detained

A court on Wednesday granted a request by the Shihlin District Prosecutors Office to detain a man who randomly attacked two women at the Jiantan MRT station in Taipei the previous day.

The 32-year-old suspect surnamed Lin was on his way to see a doctor with his mother and his mother's friend at around noon when he suddenly threw punches at an 18-year-old college student, knocking her down.

Lin then turned to attack a 50-year-old woman who had just left the station.

The student suffered knee injuries and the 50-year-old woman facial injuries, and both of them were rushed to the hospital.

Lin fled the scene with his mother on a motorcycle, and police found him that evening hiding in a bathroom in Shuang Hsi Park in Shilin District.

"Lin felt he was discriminated against and looked down upon by society. Also, he has been unable to land a job and has not taken his medicine for a long time, so his illness resurfaced," according to Che Yu-Chi (???), a police officer at Shilin precinct.

Lin, who is mentally and physically challenged, was later handed over to the prosecutors office.

A similar random attack involving Lin took place in July 2015, when he wielded a baton to attack a pedestrian in Tienmu District.

Lin later fled to the United States, saying he was going there to be treated, leaving his mother behind to apologize for his actions and take responsibility for her son's behavior.

"I feel very sorry. There will be no more incidents like this," Lin's mother said at the time.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel