June26,2014Vol.186.doc

June 26, 2014 Vol. 186 by Jason Grenier, Special Correspondent Mass Murder on Taipei’s MRT A mass murder, which took place on the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system, has caught people’s attention. Acting alone, a man boarded a crowded afternoon train on the Bannan Line and began hacking at unsuspecting commuters with a long knife suddenly. Before he was subdued by other passengers, four people were dead, and 24 others received injuries. The murderer, aged 21, is a university student coming from a rich family. Known as a loner, he spent most of his time playing violent computer games and didn’t socialize much. He had planned for the MRT attack for a long time and even told his only close friend that he was going to “start the action” just few hours before the killing spree started. His friend, however, wasnt sure if the would-be killer was serious and he feared that if he reported the conversation to the police, it would endanger their friendship. It wasn’t the first time the grisly topic of murdering random strangers had come up between them—the killer had spoken of such things countless times since junior high school. According to his friend, the murderer said that he was under pressure from school and his job search and that he felt suicidal. The killer had no history of mental illness. The disturbing postings he made on Facebook before the attack had attracted the attention of his school. He had been a counselor. However, after the meeting with a mental health professional, it was determined that he posed no threat. According to the police, the killer explained his actions by saying he wanted to “do something big,” echoing his worrisome Facebook posts. He expressed no remorse whatsoever for his heinous crimes. In the wake of the attack, armed police officers have been deployed to patrol the MRT stations and trains. The move is aimed at providing physical security and restoring passengers’ confidence in the safety of using public transportation. This m