Man arrested over restroom fires at 2 Taipei Metro stations

Taipei, Feb. 8 (CNA) Police have arrested a man in his 70s from Taichung in connection with fires set in the men's restrooms of two Taipei Metro stations on Sunday, saying he claimed he acted out of frustration after his petitions over a land rezoning issue were ignored by authorities.

The incidents occurred at Daan Park Station and Shandao Temple Station, where miscellaneous items were set on fire in the men's restrooms. Both blazes were quickly extinguished, and no injuries were reported.

According to police and fire authorities, the first report was received at 11:53 a.m., when smoke was detected in a men's restroom near an exit on the B1 level of Daan Park Station.

A second report came in at 1:59 p.m. from Shandao Temple Station, where similar materials were found burning.

Police said the similarities between the two cases prompted officers to review surveillance footage and track the suspect's movements.

The suspect, surnamed Tseng (曾), was arrested at around 2:10 p.m. at the intersection of Renai Road and Linsen South Road in Taipei's Zhongzheng District after being stopped by patrol officers.

At a news conference later in the afternoon, Chen Jui-chi (陳瑞基), head of the Taipei Police Department's Zhongzheng First Precinct, said the suspect traveled north by train from Taichung at 8:59 a.m. and allegedly set the first fire at Daan Park Station before fleeing the scene.

Chen said the suspect later left petition letters at a building near Taipei Main Station, changed clothes in the Ximending area, and then allegedly set a second fire at Shandao Temple Station.

Investigators said the suspect used straw and a lighter to start the fires and acted alone. Police added that he had previously lived in Taipei and was familiar with the city's transportation system.

According to police, the suspect told investigators he set the fires in the hope of drawing attention to his dissatisfaction with how local authorities in Taichung had handled his petitions regarding changes to a land readjustment project.

After questioning, police said the suspect would be referred to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office on suspicion of endangering public safety and other related offenses.

Responding to the incident, Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an (蔣萬安) said that the city government has stepped up patrols at mass transit stations to ensure passenger safety.