Taiwan Railway steps up security amid bomb threat to metro systems

Taipei, Dec. 22 (CNA) Taiwan Railway Corp. said Monday it has increased security at its stations integrated with metro systems nationwide after receiving a threat that bombs had been planted in the metro system and would be detonated at 1:30 p.m.

The stations include Songshan, Nangang, and Taipei railway stations in Taipei; Banqiao station in New Taipei; Songzhu, Daqing, and Xinwuri stations in Taichung; and Xinzuoying in Kaohsiung, according to the Railway Police Bureau.

The state-run Taiwan Railway said it received a report at 10:26 p.m. on Sunday about a threat that bombs had already been placed in the metro system and would be set off at 1:30 p.m. Monday. It did not give any specific details about which areas of the metro system might be at risk.

Meanwhile, the Taipei City Police Department has also stepped up security, deploying 1,579 officers throughout the city, with 320 stationed at metro facilities.