Explosion on Taiwan train injures 21 people

Rail, airport and port security has been stepped up across Taiwan after at least 24 people were injured in an explosion on a commuter train Thursday night.

Taiwanese police said they suspected the blast in the capital of Taipei was caused by an explosive in the train auto, the island’s Central News Agency reported.

A fire broke out following the explosion that occurred in the train’s sixth carriage.

Taipei’s Fire Department got the message at around 10 p.m. and sent more than 10 ambulances and 10 fire engines, reported Focus Taiwan.

The train was on its way from Hsinchu to Keelung. The fire was quickly put out, but only after multiple passengers sustained burn injuries. The incident could have been a deliberate act and involved other explosives, the report said.

Pictures from the scene show the train carriages filled with dust as firefighters and investigators searched for clues. The tube was 6 inch-long (15 centimeters), and they believed it was the cause of the explosion. Two people were seriously injured, he said.

“I want to tell the public to rest assured as we have heightened the alert for the security of public areas and transport systems”, Premier Lin told reporters after he had visited the injured in hospital.

Both the National Police Agency and the Criminal Investigation Bureau are in charge of the investigation, says The China Post.