Student freed on bail over Kaohsiung Station threat repost

Kaohsiung, Dec. 21 (CNA) A male university student was released on NT$50,000 (US$1,586) bail after being detained and questioned for reposting an online message about a potential attack on Kaohsiung Main Station that referenced Friday's stabbing spree in Taipei.

The message appeared on the social media platform Threads after four people, including the perpetrator, 27-year-old Chang Wen (張文), died during an indiscriminate knife attack late Friday near Taipei Main Station and Zhongshan MRT Station, the Ciaotou District Prosecutors Office in Kaohsiung said Sunday.

The online post claimed that a "bigger event would be carried out at Kaohsiung Main Station on Dec. 25" and said "the main character Chang Wen is my brother."

Authorities later determined that the post's IP address was suspected to be located in Vietnam.

The message was widely shared online, including by a man surnamed Chen (陳), a university student, prompting prosecutors, police and investigators to open a probe amid fears it could trigger a copycat effect.

Investigators traced Chen's repost and conducted a search of his residence on Saturday before bringing him in for questioning, prosecutors said.

Chen told investigators that he reposted the message to "remind people to stay alert," but failed to clearly label it as a warning, which led to misunderstanding and public panic, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said they did not accept Chen's explanation and determined that his actions constituted a threat to public safety, with substantial criminal suspicion.

However, they concluded there was no necessity for detention and ordered his release on bail.

Authorities urged the public not to post or share messages that threaten public safety or spread unverified information, warning that such behavior can cause fear, disrupt social order and carry legal consequences.