2014 ROC Presidential Office Building truck attack

On 25 January 2014, Chang Ter-cheng (張德正) attempted to drive a 35-tonne truck through the main doors of the Presidential Office Building, Taiwan.[1]

Chronology

At 5:05 am, Chang drove a 35-tonne truck towards the office at a speed of 72 km/h, ramming through four layers of defensive barriers and going up the stairs before being stopped by a bulletproof door leading to the entrance of the presidential office building.[2] Sentries guards of the 211th battalion, ROC Military Police slammed shut the bulletproof door within seconds after they saw the vehicle was heading towards them. It only took five seconds for the truck to hit the building after it left Ketagalan Boulevard. No sentries guarding the gate were injured.[3]

Chang was taken immediately by the police to the National Taiwan University Hospital for treatment from injuries due to the collision. He regained consciousness later.

At the time of the incident, President Ma Ying-jeou was in São Tomé and Príncipe on an official trip.[4][5]

Aftermath

The Presidential Office invited the National Police Agency, National Security Bureau and Taipei City Police Department for a meeting to discuss on how to better secure the presidential office building in the future.[6]

The Presidential Office had ordered a new and thicker bullet proof door to be installed as soon as possible. A new 18 concrete flower-stands had also been installed in front of the building right after the incident occurred.

Wu Chung-ho (吳仲和), the guard who closed the bulletproof door before the truck slammed into the building, was awarded a medal and given extra vacation days in for his actions.[7][8]

The Taiwan High Court sentenced the perpetrator to six years in prison on 9 September 2015.[9][10] In December, the Taipei Distinct Court ordered Chang to pay NT$3.44 million in damages to the Presidential Office.[11] In September 2016, the Taiwan High Court decided that Hau Ming Enterprise Co., Chang's employer at the time of the vehicle-ramming attack, and Chang himself were to split the cost of compensation paid to the Presidential Office. Hau Ming filed an appeal to the Supreme Court, which was heard in January 2017. The Supreme upheld the ruling of High Court.[12]

Reactions
New barriers and fences in front of the Presidential Building as of February 2015

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou asked officials to handle this incident carefully by following all standard operating procedures.

ROC Presidential Office Secretary-General Timothy Yang said that a team will be established and charged with improving security around the building.[6][13]

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-pin demanded the police increase security around the Presidential Office Building to avoid similar incidents in the future.

References
  1. "Truck crashes into Presidential Office". Taipei Times. 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  2. "Task force to review security after truck breaches office". Taipei Times. 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  3. "Presidential Office rammed by truck". The China Post. 2014-01-26. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  4. "35-tonne truck rams into Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou's office". Straits Times. 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  5. "Truck rams into Taiwan president's office | News | GMA News Online". Gmanetwork.com. 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  6. "Bullet-proof door blocked truck within seconds: official". The China Post. 2014-01-26. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  7. "Police probe Chang Te-cheng's motive". Taipei Times. 2014-04-14. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  8. "不畏7千噸衝擊 菜鳥秒按立大功". YouTube. 2014-01-26. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
  9. Tsai, P.C.; Lin, Lillian (9 September 2015). "Man who rammed truck into Presidential Office entrance sentenced". Central News Agency. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  10. Pan, Jason (9 September 2015). "Six-year term for Presidential Office Building ramming". Taipei Times. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  11. Tsai, Page; Wu, Lilian (8 December 2015). "In truck ramming case, NT$3.44 million ordered in compensation". Central News Agency. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  12. Wang, Yang-yu; Hsu, Elizabeth (12 January 2017). "Man who rammed Presidential Office fined; case closed". Central News Agency. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  13. "驚險關鍵五秒! 菜鳥憲兵急按下防彈鋼門". YouTube. 2014-01-25. Retrieved 2014-04-21.
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