24 injured by blast on passenger train in Taiwan

July 7, 2016 at 14:12

At least 24 people have been injured, after an explosion inside a train carriage, at the Songshan railway station in central Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.

Focus Taiwan TV reported that just before 10pm local time there was a loud bang in the sixth carriage of a crowded commuter train, which then quickly became engulfed in flames. The Straits Times and several other local media said there had been three explosions.

#BREAKING 21 injured in an explosion in a Taiwan passenger train carriage in Taipei; cause of explosion unknown pic.twitter.com/XuF7dO4ARe
— CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) July 7, 2016

At least 10 ambulances and as many fire engines were dispatched to the station. One person had reportedly sustained burns over 30 percent of his body.

傷者名單，有親朋好友恰好在車站附近的話，可以確認一下有沒在名單內#爆炸 #松山車站 https://t.co/cBxAvZEF2u
— 台灣蘋果日報即時新聞 (@applerealtime) July 7, 2016

A local newspaper has reported that eyewitnesses saw a man in his 40s walk inside the carriage, put down a 15-20cm tube-like object and quickly exit the train. National Police Agency Director General Chen Kuo-en has confirmed that the explosion was likely caused by a “firecracker-like device.” The police official has refused to call the incident a terrorist attack. Local media have reported that a manhunt for the suspect is in progress.