Man detained for shooting at Taipei kindergarten over noise dispute

Taipei, Feb. 11 (CNA) A man accused of repeatedly firing an air gun at a kindergarten in Taipei's Wenshan District has been detained after a court ruling, police said Tuesday.

The suspect, surnamed Huang (黃), lives near the kindergarten and allegedly began shooting at the school in late January after becoming upset over noise from children, according to a police press release.

Police said Huang initially targeted the building's exterior walls, which went unnoticed, until staff discovered damaged windows and water pipes and reported the case on Jan. 21.

After reviewing surveillance footage and collecting other evidence, police identified Huang as the prime suspect and carried out a search of his residence last week. Officers seized three air guns, two bottles of pellets, a box of BB bullets, a mobile phone and a tablet.

Huang told police he had ongoing disputes with the kindergarten over noise and said he resorted to the shootings after complaints to relevant authorities failed to resolve the issue.

The seized weapons have been sent for forensic examination to determine their functionality and potential danger. Huang was referred to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office, which successfully petitioned the court to detain him pending further investigation.