National Police Agency Director-General Wang Cho-chiun (王卓鈞) yesterday downplayed the impact on the president's safety of a shooting that took place on Tuesday in a park near the Presidential Office.
“Security personnel stationed in front of the Presidential Office and police patrols continue to operate as normal,” Wang said, adding that “police officers will pay extra attention to unusual conditions” around the Presidential Office.
A 39-year-old heavily armed man with a long history of criminal activity apparently shot himself to death in a park near the Presidential office on Tuesday, sparking a temporary security alert.
No suicide note was found, but officers recovered a 9mm handgun, 200 bullets, two magazines and a holster in the man's attache case. Police said the man's criminal record included drug possession, armed robbery, kidnapping, extortion and obstruction of individual liberty.
Police are still investigating the reason for the shooting.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Office refused to comment on whether anyone should be punished for the shooting near the presidential complex, saying all security personnel involved had done their best.
Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi (王郁琦) said the office needed to “further understand” whether there had been any negligence in maintaining security in the vicinity of the Presidential Office.
“Nobody wants to see things like this happen,” he said. “I believe all personnel involved did everything to the best of their ability.”
Wang made the remarks in response to reporters' questions whether the shooting signified a security breach in the Boai District (博愛特區), a special zone where the Presidential Office is situated, and whether anyone should be punished as a result of Tuesday's shooting.
“There was no problem with the presidential security,” he said, adding that security had been tightened since the incident.
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