Man arrested in airport after holding airline intern at knifepoint

Taoyuan, Sept. 13 (CNA) A man who allegedly held a Cathay Pacific Airways intern at knifepoint and injured him at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Saturday evening was subdued and arrested by aviation police later that day, police said.

Aviation police said they received a report at around 5:25 p.m. of a man wielding a knife and confronting someone in the Cathay Pacific staff lounge in Terminal 1.

Officers on duty were immediately dispatched to the scene, police said.

The suspect, surnamed Tsai (蔡), was subdued at 5:58 p.m. and sustained only superficial injuries, according to the police.

He was taken to the Aviation Police Bureau for questioning about his motives, police said.

Police also confiscated Tsai's backpack, which had been left in the arrivals lobby, and found no dangerous items inside, they said.

Meanwhile, the man held at knifepoint, an airline intern surnamed Huang (黃), sustained lacerations to his right hand and abdomen and was taken to a hospital for treatment, police said.

Cathay Pacific later issued a statement confirming that an unidentified individual had entered its staff lounge and was taken into custody by authorities.

The airline said it was highly concerned about Huang's condition and would provide him with any necessary assistance while fully cooperating with the police investigation.

It was unclear what the assailant's motives were.

Police have yet to provide further details.