TAIPEI — January 11, 2026
A 45-year-old man surnamed Tsao was arrested after randomly assaulting two pedestrians near the Taipei MRT Station M7 exit on Sunday afternoon. Moments later, he was also found to be the same person who made a false emergency call claiming a street brawl was happening nearby.
Unprovoked Assault Near MRT Exit
According to the Taipei City Police Zhongzheng First Precinct, officers received a report around 5:00 p.m. that two individuals were suddenly attacked by an unknown man while resting and using their phones, possibly playing a mobile game, near the M7 entrance.
When police arrived, the victims stated they did not know their attacker. They said Tsao approached without warning and began hitting and kicking them. Both were startled but not seriously injured.
Suspect Located in Underground Mall
Officers reviewed descriptions given by the victims and canvassed the surrounding areas. They soon found Tsao wandering in the Zhongshan Underground Mall, matching the reported appearance. Police determined that Tsao exhibited signs of unstable mental condition and detained him for questioning.
False Report About Street Fight
While officers were handling the assault case, another call came in claiming that a group of men and women were fighting at the Taipei Underground Mall Y4 exit. A quick-response team was dispatched, but no fight was found at the scene.
Investigators traced the phone number used to make the false report and discovered that the caller was Tsao—the same man detained moments earlier.
Police Findings
Officers said Tsao spoke incoherently during questioning. When asked why he attacked the two pedestrians, he was unable to provide a clear explanation. Regarding the false report, Tsao claimed he believed people were gathering to attack him, prompting him to call the police.
Legal Action
The two victims declined to press charges for assault, so police will handle the incident under the Social Order Maintenance Act.
However, for making a false report that caused unnecessary police mobilization, Tsao has been referred to prosecutors for filing a fraudulent emergency call, which may fall under false accusation or public nuisance provisions.