A 64-year-old man surnamed Li attempted to break into the Taiwan Presidential Office with a knife in March, but was subdued and arrested by police and military guards. Due to Li’s unstable mental condition, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office petitioned the court to place him in temporary care, which was approved. On Tuesday, prosecutors indicted Li on charges including intimidation to the public under the Criminal Code.
The indictment filed by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office states that around 2:50 a.m. on March 9 of this year, Li entered the plaza in front of the Presidential Office holding a fruit knife, saying, “I want to kill Lai Ching-te, who is impersonated by the Chinese Communist Party,” among other remarks. Military guards immediately alerted the police, who rushed to the scene and, together with the guards, subdued and arrested Li.
The incident caused no injuries or casualties. Police confiscated a fruit knife at the scene. Investigation showed that Li had taken a taxi from Keelung to the Presidential Office to express his opinions, but no related petition record was found. After an initial inquiry, police referred Li to prosecutors on suspicion of endangering public safety through intimidation.
After questioning Li, the prosecutor found his mental state to be unstable and petitioned the Taipei District Court for a six-month temporary placement, which was granted. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office concluded the investigation today and indicted Li on charges of endangering public safety and public intimidation under the Criminal Code. The confiscated fruit knife was ordered to be seized.