SAFETY FIRST:
Double the number of police were deployed at the Taipei Marathon, while other cities released plans to bolster public event safety

Authorities across Taiwan have stepped up security measures ahead of Christmas and New Year events, following a knife and smoke bomb attack in Taipei on Friday that left four people dead and 11 injured.

In a bid to prevent potential copycat incidents, police deployments have been expanded for large gatherings, transport hubs, and other crowded public spaces, according to official statements from police and city authorities.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said the city has “comprehensively raised security readiness” in crowded areas, increased police deployments with armed officers, and intensified patrols during weekends and nighttime hours.

Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times

For large-scale events, security checkpoints and explosives detection measures would be introduced, the Taipei City Government said.

The Taipei City Police Department’s Songshan Precinct said it has implemented multilayered security measures for events at the Taipei Arena, deploying armed patrol officers around the venue and at MRT Taipei Arena Station.

Security at the annual Taipei Marathon was heavily increased yesterday, with almost 700 armed police officers deployed along the route.

Photo: CNA

The 693 police officers assigned to the event were double the number deployed in previous years, Chiang said during his inspection of the security arrangements at Taipei Municipal Stadium, the finish line of the annual marathon.

Chiang said all the police officers were armed to protect the marathon runners and deter any disruptions.

Police presence was reinforced at 22 key intersections and road sections across the city to respond to possible emergencies, while mobile police patrols were also increased, he added.

Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times

The Taipei Marathon drew about 28,000 runners yesterday, with about 9,000 competing in the full marathon, and 19,000 participating in the half-marathon, Chiang said.

Ethiopian runner Gadise Mulu Demissie won the women’s title, setting a new course record with her time of 2 hours, 24 minutes and 17 seconds. Kenyan Bethwel Kibet Chumba won the men’s race, clocking 2 hours, 9 minutes and 31 seconds.

Before the start of the race yesterday morning, the runners observed one minute of silence for the victims of Friday’s attack, while the organizers replaced the traditional starting gun with an air horn.

Meanwhile, New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said the city would also work closely with the central government to boost patrol density and protective capacity to ensure that the public can participate in events “with peace of mind.”

Hsinchu City’s Police Bureau said it has increased patrols at crowded locations and major transport nodes, and has established joint hotlines with national railway service providers.

In central Taiwan, the Taichung City Government said it has established real-time reporting systems for Christmas events and the New Year’s Eve gala, while the Changhua County Police Department said it had deployed about 100 personnel to provide security at a year-end concert at Changhua County Stadium.

Meanwhile, the Chiayi City Police Department said it has raised security levels for large events and has implemented high-density patrols and guard duties at key transport hubs, including Chiayi Station, Jiabei Station and the Chiayi City Transit Center.

Cities in southern Taiwan are also stepping up security for holiday events, with the Tainan City Police Department’s 4th Precinct saying it would deploy 230 police officers and 46 civilian personnel, set up a forward command post, activate joint security mechanisms with organizers, and deploy bomb-sniffing dogs at an upcoming Christmas concert at a plaza near the Yonghua Civic Center.

In Kaohsiung, the city’s Sinsing Precinct said it has increased police deployments, enforced high-traffic area patrols, and strengthened joint security mechanisms at Central Park (中央公園), Yuzhu Shopping District, and key Kaohsiung Metro stations for the Kaohsiung Christmas Life Festival.

The heightened measures nationwide follow the incident on Friday in which a 27-year-old Taiwanese man threw smoke bombs and stabbed passersby near Taipei Main Station and MRT Zhongshan Station.

Three of the victims died, at least 11 were injured, and the attacker later jumped to his death from the sixth floor of a department store building during a police pursuit.