2016 Taiwan Railways bombing

Railway incident in Taiwan 2016 Taiwan Railways bombing Songshan station, Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan 7 July 2016, 22:00 NST (UTC+8) TRA EM517 and Cathay Life Xizhi Building 2016-04-11.jpg A Taiwan Railways EMU500 series train, similar to the one involved in the bombing Train No. 1258 of the Taiwan Railways Administration 25 (13 males, 12 females, including the perpetrator) Lin Ying-chang Despair over prolonged illness; suicide The 2016 Taiwan Railways bombing, also known as the TRA Train No. 1258 bombing or the Songshan Station bombing, was a railway security incident in Taiwan. Officially referred to as the Taiwan Railways Administration Hsinchu–Keelung Train No. 1258 bombing, the attack occurred at approximately 10:00 p.m. on 7 July 2016, when an explosive device placed in the sixth car of Taiwan Railways Administration (TRA) Train No. 1258 detonated as the train was approaching Songshan Station.【更新】松山車站列車爆炸　24人受傷名單 [Update] Train Explosion at Songshan Station: List of 24 Injured People http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20160708/903550/paperart_right https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003132/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20160708/903550/paperart_right 2017-03-05 2026-06-20 蘋果日報 zh-TW2016-07-07 台鐵車廂爆炸案 警政署長陳國恩：爆竹引起 Taiwan Railways carriage explosion: National Police Agency Director-General Chen Kuo-en says it was caused by firecrackers. https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/1755636 https://web.archive.org/web/20200412072210/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/1755636 2020-04-12 2026-06-20 自由電子報 zh-Hant-TW The explosion injured 25 passengers.【更新有片】台鐵松山車站列車爆炸　21名旅客受傷 [Update with Video] Train Explosion at TRA Songshan Station; 21 Passengers Injured http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20160707/903486/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003135/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20160707/903486/ 2017-03-05 2026-06-20 蘋果日報 zh-TW松山車站列車爆炸 2重傷23輕傷 Train Explosion at Songshan Station: 2 Seriously Injured, 23 Sustain Minor Injuries http://www.taiwandaily.net/gp2.aspx?_p=kSF1c9zU9HR9PhKlUxzC8FWEXNpHOLAs https://web.archive.org/web/20161011011810/http://www.taiwandaily.net/gp2.aspx?_p=kSF1c9zU9HR9PhKlUxzC8FWEXNpHOLAs 2016-10-11 2026-06-20 www.taiwandaily.net Investigators later determined that the perpetrator was Lin Ying-chang, who had also been on board the train. Incident The train involved was TRA local Train No. 1258 from Hsinchu to Keelung, consisting of EMU509 and EMU504 sets. It departed Taipei Station at 9:52 p.m. and was scheduled to arrive at Songshan Station at 9:59 p.m.新竹→基隆 Hsinchu → Keelung http://163.29.3.98/FullTimeTable/20160701/%E6%96%B0%E7%AB%B9%E2%86%92%E5%9F%BA%E9%9A%86.pdf 2026-06-20 2016-08-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20160821171047/http://163.29.3.98/FullTimeTable/20160701/%E6%96%B0%E7%AB%B9%E2%86%92%E5%9F%BA%E9%9A%86.pdf dead While traveling between kilometer markers 24 and 25, a black piece of luggage placed on the overhead rack in car EP509 (the sixth car) suddenly exploded.中時電子報 2016-07-08 台鐵火車爆炸 25傷 Taiwan Railway Train Explosion: 25 Injured https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20160708000450-260102 https://web.archive.org/web/20190611175401/https://www.chinatimes.com/newspapers/20160708000450-260102 2019-06-11 2026-06-20 中時電子報 zh-TW台鐵爆炸前一刻　目擊者看到奇怪的一幕 Moments before the Taiwan Railways explosion, a witness saw something strange. http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20160708/903614/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003128/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20160708/903614/ 2017-03-05 2026-06-20 蘋果日報 zh-TW Twenty-five passengers were injured, several of them seriously. After the train arrived at Songshan Station, the fire was quickly extinguished.台北松山車站火車爆炸 多達20人傷 Train explosion at Taipei's Songshan Station; up to 20 injured. http://news.tvb.com/instant/577e6d166db28c4a170afe34/ https://web.archive.org/web/20190610203130/http://news.tvb.com/instant/577e6d166db28c4a170afe34/ 2019-06-10 2026-06-20The Taipei City Fire Department zh 臺北市政府消防局 dispatched multiple fire engines and ambulances to the scene to conduct rescue operations.聯合影音 台鐵車廂爆炸 逾20名乘客受傷 Explosion on TRA train carriage; over 20 passengers injured. https://video.udn.com/news/522304 https://web.archive.org/web/20190607182028/https://video.udn.com/news/522304 2019-06-07 2026-06-20 聯合影音 zh-TW台北列车爆炸20余名旅客受伤 警方称发现长形爆竹(图) Over 20 passengers injured in Taipei train explosion; police report finding a long firecracker (Photo) http://news.ifeng.com/a/20160708/49315420_0.shtml https://web.archive.org/web/20190611003603/http://news.ifeng.com/a/20160708/49315420_0.shtml 2019-06-11 2026-06-20 news.ifeng.com Casualties thumb|The incident took place at TRA Songshan Station. thumb|The EMU500 train involved in the incident (Train No. 1258) has been temporarily parked alongside the unused Platform 3 at Nangang Station. According to the Taipei City Fire Department, 25 people—13 men and 12 women—were injured. They were transported to various hospitals, including Taipei City Hospital Zhongxiao Branch zh Taipei City Hospital Zhongxiao Branch (six patients), Taipei Medical University Hospital (five), Cathay General Hospital zh 國泰醫療財團法人 (two), Tri-Service General Hospital Neihu Branch zh 三軍總醫院 (four), Tri-Service General Hospital Songshan Branch zh 三軍總醫院松山分院 (five), and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Taipei zh 長庚醫療財團法人 (three).松山車站爆炸案　傷者名單出爐 List of injured in Songshan Station bombing released http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20160707/903539/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003139/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20160707/903539/ 2017-03-05 2026-06-20 蘋果日報 zh-TW Among the injured were a 38-year-old Vietnamese woman with minor injuries, a 17-year-old male surnamed Lü, a 24-year-old male surnamed Yu, and 55-year-old suspect Lin Ying-chang, who sustained serious injuries.中央通訊社 台鐵松山車站列車爆炸 2重傷23輕傷[更新] Train Explosion at TRA Songshan Station: 2 Seriously Injured, 23 Sustain Minor Injuries [Update] http://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201607085004-1.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20170307110942/http://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201607085004-1.aspx 2017-03-07 2026-06-20 Investigation In response to the bombing, the Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Railway Police Bureau, and other agencies formed the "1258 Task Force".自由時報電子報 2016-07-08 台鐵列車爆炸成立「1258專案」 交通部長這樣説 "Project 1258" launched following Taiwan Railways train explosion; here is what the Transport Minister had to say. https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/1755708 https://web.archive.org/web/20201022124142/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/1755708 2020-10-22 2026-06-20 自由時報電子報 zh-Hant-TW Investigators recovered fragments of a firecracker approximately 20 centimeters long and white powder residue at the scene, leading them to suspect that the explosion had been caused by ignited firecracker powder.台铁松山火车站一列车发生爆炸 警方：不排除恐袭 Explosion occurs on a train at Taiwan Railways' Songshan Station; police do not rule out a terrorist attack. http://news.ifeng.com/a/20160708/49314380_0.shtml 2026-06-20 news.ifeng.com Authorities initially did not rule out the possibility of a terrorist attack. Witnesses reported seeing a man in his forties carrying a long object into the carriage, placing an unknown item inside, and then leaving. Other passengers recalled seeing a man pushing a black suitcase into the car before departing.中央通訊社 松山火車站列車爆炸 疑1男涉案 Train Explosion at Songshan Station: One Man Suspected of Involvement http://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201607070609-1.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20170307125457/http://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201607070609-1.aspx 2017-03-07 2026-06-20 Li Tzu-wen, head of the First Unit of the Fifth Investigation Division of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, stated that investigators had found fragments of a ruptured steel pipe explosive device and a black canvas backpack, which were believed to mark the center of the explosion. Li further explained that investigators found a broken steel pipe measuring approximately 6 centimeters in width and 15 centimeters in length, along with fragments scattered across the floor. Since no switch mechanism was found, authorities concluded that the device had likely been ignited manually. Damage to the nearby black canvas backpack suggested that the steel pipe bomb had been placed inside it. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office assigned senior prosecutor Teng Chih-ping and his team to investigate the case.台鐵車廂爆炸 林全證實：此為惡意犯案 Taiwan Railways carriage explosion: Lin Chuan confirms it was a malicious act. https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/1755689 https://web.archive.org/web/20190610062921/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/1755689 2019-06-10 2026-06-20 自由電子報 zh-Hant-TW自由時報電子報 2016-07-08 就是它！台鐵爆炸案肇禍鋼管 警籲民眾指認 This is the one! Police urge the public to identify the steel pipe responsible for the Taiwan Railways bombing. https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/1755688 https://web.archive.org/web/20201022145551/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/1755688 2020-10-22 2026-06-20 自由時報電子報 zh-Hant-TW On 8 July, police announced that DNA collected from the train restroom matched that of Lin Ying-chang, one of the seriously injured passengers, who had also been identified by several eyewitnesses.聯合新聞網 台鐵爆炸案採到重傷林姓男DNA 檢警：他涉有重嫌 DNA of severely injured man surnamed Lin found at scene of Taiwan Railways bombing; prosecutors and police say he is a prime suspect. http://udn.com/news/story/1/1815909 https://web.archive.org/web/20160920095912/http://udn.com/news/story/1/1815909 2016-09-20 2026-06-20 聯合新聞網中央通訊社 台鐵火車爆炸案 55歲林姓傷者涉重嫌 Taiwan Railways train bombing: 55-year-old injured man named as prime suspect. http://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201607085019-1.aspx https://web.archive.org/web/20170307104154/http://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201607085019-1.aspx 2017-03-07 2026-06-20 After fifteen hours of investigation, police concluded that Lin, who remained unconscious due to severe injuries, was the prime suspect. Because he had no fixed residence, investigators searched for his vehicle and discovered a van in Ren'ai Township, Nantou County, on the evening of 8 July. Inside, they found a suicide note left by Lin before the attack, in which he stated that he had suffered from tonsil cancer for many years and had become despondent and suicidal.台鐵爆炸案 15小時鎖定主嫌 55歲男自殺式犯案 Taiwan Railway bombing: Prime suspect identified within 15 hours; 55-year-old man carried out suicide-style attack. https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%8F%B0%E9%90%B5%E7%88%86%E7%82%B8%E6%A1%88-15%E5%B0%8F%E6%99%82%E9%8E%96%E5%AE%9A%E4%B8%BB%E5%AB%8C-55%E6%AD%B2%E7%94%B7%E8%87%AA%E6%AE%BA%E5%BC%8F%E7%8A%AF%E6%A1%88-215005021.html https://web.archive.org/web/20190607153355/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%8F%B0%E9%90%B5%E7%88%86%E7%82%B8%E6%A1%88-15%E5%B0%8F%E6%99%82%E9%8E%96%E5%AE%9A%E4%B8%BB%E5%AB%8C-55%E6%AD%B2%E7%94%B7%E8%87%AA%E6%AE%BA%E5%BC%8F%E7%8A%AF%E6%A1%88-215005021.html 2019-06-07 2026-06-20 zh-Hant-TW On 19 July 2016, a judge ordered Lin detained without restricting visits. During court proceedings, Lin stated that after leaving his dog with the owner of a breakfast shop, he traveled north from Taichung. He originally intended to detonate the bomb at Hsinchu railway station when the crowds were larger but lost his nerve. He eventually boarded a local train to Taipei and carried out the attack in northern Taiwan.台鐵爆炸案 主嫌林英昌裁定收押 Main suspect in Taiwan Railway bombing case, Lin Ying-chang, ordered detained. https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/1768167 https://web.archive.org/web/20190629052040/https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/society/breakingnews/1768167 2019-06-29 2026-06-20 自由電子報 zh-Hant-TW2016-07-16 原鎖定新竹車站引爆 林嫌：看到小女孩作罷 Suspect originally targeted Hsinchu Station for bombing but abandoned the plan after seeing a little girl. https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%8E%9F%E9%8E%96%E5%AE%9A%E6%96%B0%E7%AB%B9%E8%BB%8A%E7%AB%99%E5%BC%95%E7%88%86-%E6%9E%97%E5%AB%8C-%E7%9C%8B%E5%88%B0%E5%B0%8F%E5%A5%B3%E5%AD%A9%E4%BD%9C%E7%BD%B7-073130767.html 2026-06-20 Yahoo News zh-Hant-TW Response In the early hours following the bombing, Premier of Taiwan Lin Chuan visited hospitals to see the injured and stated that security measures for public transportation systems would be strengthened, urging the public not to panic.中時電子報 松山爆炸 林全：提高運輸系統維安民眾勿擔憂 Songshan Explosion — Lin Chuan: Security on transport systems to be stepped up; public urged not to worry. http://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20160708000156-260401 https://web.archive.org/web/20170305002939/http://www.chinatimes.com/realtimenews/20160708000156-260401 2017-03-05 2026-06-20 中時電子報 zh-TWThe Taipei City Department of Social Welfare also dispatched personnel to hospitals to visit the victims and distributed NT$5,000 in consolation payments to each injured person on behalf of the Taipei City Government.區間車爆炸/柯文哲：傷者每人5000慰問金 Commuter Train Explosion / Ko Wen-je: NT$5,000 Condolence Payment for Each Injured Person https://tw.news.yahoo.com/5000-163108930.html https://web.archive.org/web/20190604033753/https://tw.news.yahoo.com/5000-163108930.html 2019-06-04 2026-06-20 zh-Hant-TW In the criminal proceedings, the Taipei District Prosecutors Office concluded its investigation on 17 November 2016 and indicted Lin Ying-chang on charges including attempted murder and violations of the Controlling Guns, Ammunition and Knives Act, recommending that he be sentenced to 30 years in prison.2016-11-17 台鐵爆炸案偵結 主嫌林英昌求刑30年 Investigation into Taiwan Railways bombing concluded; 30-year prison term sought for prime suspect Lin Ying-chang. https://tw.news.yahoo.com/%E5%8F%B0%E9%90%B5%E7%88%86%E7%82%B8%E6%A1%88%E5%81%B5%E7%B5%90-%E4%B8%BB%E5%AB%8C%E6%9E%97%E8%8B%B1%E6%98%8C%E6%B1%82%E5%88%9130%E5%B9%B4-020945770.html 2026-06-20 Yahoo News zh-Hant-TW中央通訊社 2016-11-17 台鐵爆炸案 林英昌在兒子面前被羈押 Taiwan Railway bombing: Lin Ying-chang remanded in custody in front of his son. https://www.cna.com.tw/news/firstnews/201611170326.aspx 2026-06-20 中央社 CNA zh-Hant-TW On 22 February 2017, the Taipei District Court sentenced Lin to 30 years' imprisonment for attempted murder and manufacturing explosives.三立新聞網 台鐵松山車站爆炸釀25傷　主嫌林英昌重判30年 Explosion at TRA Songshan Station Injures 25; Prime Suspect Lin Ying-chang Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison http://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=227233 https://web.archive.org/web/20170223125501/http://www.setn.com/News.aspx?NewsID=227233 2017-02-23 2026-06-20 zh-Hant On 1 August 2017, the Taiwan High Court reduced the sentence for attempted murder to 19 years and 10 months and imposed an additional sentence of 10 years and 6 months for illegally manufacturing explosives, resulting in a combined sentence of 29 years and 10 months.辯憂鬱症害他炸台鐵　林英昌二審只減刑2個月 Lin Ying-chang, who claimed depression drove him to bomb a TRA train, saw his sentence reduced by only two months on appeal. https://www.upmedia.mg/news_info.php?SerialNo=21906 https://web.archive.org/web/20190610095208/https://www.upmedia.mg/news_info.php?SerialNo=21906 2019-06-10 2026-06-20 On 8 November 2017, the Supreme Court of Taiwan sentenced Lin to a total of 30 years and 4 months for attempted murder, including offenses against a child, thereby finalizing the case.TVBS 台鐵爆炸案　林英昌判刑30年4月定讞 TRA Bombing Case: Lin Ying-chang's 30-Year-4-Month Sentence Finalized https://news.tvbs.com.tw/world/809371 https://web.archive.org/web/20190611112511/https://news.tvbs.com.tw/world/809371 2019-06-11 2026-06-20 news.tvbs.com.tw Because multiple judgments had been rendered, Lin later petitioned the court to determine a consolidated sentence, which was set at 29 years and 10 months.臺灣高等法院 106 年度聲字第 3586 號刑事裁定 Criminal Ruling No. 3586 (Year 106) of the Taiwan High Court https://law.judicial.gov.tw/FJUD/data.aspx?ty=JD&id=TPHM,106,%E8%81%B2,3586,20171130,1 https://web.archive.org/web/20220326160104/https://law.judicial.gov.tw/FJUD/data.aspx?ty=JD&id=TPHM,106,%E8%81%B2,3586,20171130,1 2022-03-26 2026-06-20 law.judicial.gov.tw zh-TW In the civil proceedings, on 11 August 2017, the Taipei District Court ordered Lin to pay NT$6,838,505 in damages to Taiwan Railways Administration and the injured passengers. The compensation included NT$1,764,681 for damage to the train carriage, NT$5,915 for ticket refunds and exchanges, NT$390,692 for operational losses resulting from the damaged carriage being taken out of service, and NT$4,672,217 for the medical expenses of the injured passengers.2017-08-11 台鐵松山車站爆炸案 北院判兇手賠台鐵683萬元 Taipei District Court Orders Perpetrator of TRA Songshan Station Bombing to Pay NT$6.83 Million in Damages to TRA https://www.peoplenews.tw/news/f14bc39a-f282-4c35-8565-e301b97f2127 https://web.archive.org/web/20190803210710/https://www.peoplenews.tw/news/f14bc39a-f282-4c35-8565-e301b97f2127 2019-08-03 2026-06-20 zh-TW Official reactions Presidential Office Office of the President (Taiwan) spokesman zh 中華民國總統府發言人 Huang Chung-yuan stated that both the Office of the President and the National Security Council had been informed immediately after the incident and had maintained contact with the Executive Yuan to monitor developments. President of the Republic of China Tsai Ing-wen had also been briefed. The National Security Council continued to track the situation through intelligence collected by the National Security Bureau.台鐵列車爆炸 總統隨時掌握狀況 Taiwan Railways train explosion: President closely monitoring the situation. http://n.yam.com/cna/politics/20160708/20160708785876.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160813055534/http://n.yam.com/cna/politics/20160708/20160708785876.html 2016-08-13 2026-06-20 yam蕃薯藤新聞 Executive Yuan Executive Yuan spokesman Tung Chen-yuan stated that the government had already grasped the situation surrounding the explosion. Premier of Taiwan Lin Chuan was deeply concerned and had instructed police and fire authorities to provide immediate rescue and medical assistance, restore transportation services, and conduct a prompt investigation into the case.台鐵列車爆炸案　總統府：國安會持續追蹤了解進度 TRA Train Explosion: Presidential Office Says National Security Council Will Continue to Monitor and Track Progress http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/politics/20160708/903563 https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003133/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/politics/20160708/903563 2017-03-05 2026-06-20 蘋果日報 zh-TW Ministry of Transportation and Communications The Ministry of Transportation and Communications stated that it had immediately instructed the Taiwan Railways Administration and the Taiwan High Speed Rail Engineering Bureau zh 交通部高速鐵路工程局 to notify all Taiwan Railways and Taiwan High Speed Rail stations to heighten vigilance and conduct security inspections. The Railway Police Bureau was requested to strengthen security at stations and on trains and to increase patrols for suspicious unattended objects. Airports, ports, and highway bus terminals were also ordered to raise their security alert levels.交通部下令　車站機場港口提升安全戒備 Ministry of Transport Orders Heightened Security at Stations, Airports, and Ports http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20160708/903572/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003137/http://www.appledaily.com.tw/realtimenews/article/new/20160708/903572/ 2017-03-05 2026-06-20 蘋果日報 zh-TW Taipei City Government Mayor of Taipei Ko Wen-je thanked Premier of Taiwan Lin Chuan for promptly visiting the scene and expressed confidence in Taipei City's ability to handle more than twenty casualties through its emergency medical system. He noted that social workers from the Taipei City Government's Department of Social Welfare had been stationed at each hospital to assist patients and their families. Regarding the cause of the explosion, Ko said that conclusions should await the results of the police investigation and urged the public not to engage in excessive speculation.呂璟明 2016-07-08 探視松山車站爆炸事件傷者 柯文哲：北市醫療處理能量充足 駐點社工師協助家屬後續處理 Ko Wen-je visits victims of the Songshan Station explosion; Taipei City has sufficient medical capacity, and on-site social workers are assisting families with follow-up arrangements. http://www.dot.gov.taipei/ct.asp?xItem=200419680&ctNode=51320&mp=117001 https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003119/http://www.dot.gov.taipei/ct.asp?xItem=200419680&ctNode=51320&mp=117001 2017-03-05 2026-06-20 www.dot.gov.taipei zh-TW References Category:2016 crimes in Taiwan Category:2016 disasters in Taiwan Category:Attacks in Taiwan Category:Improvised explosive device bombings Category:July 2016 in Asia Category:Railway accidents and incidents in Taiwan Category:Terrorist incidents in Taiwan Category:History of Taipei Category:Taiwan Railways Administration