Man Attempts to Rob CTBC Bank with BB Gun and Fake Grenade; Police Suspect Financial Pressure, No Accomplices
A man in his 30s attempted to rob a CTBC Bank branch in Taipei using a BB gun and a fake grenade. Bank staff alerted the police, who arrived in 3 minutes and subdued him without any financial loss. The motive is suspected to be economic pressure.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:03
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 19:32 (28 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 21:44 (2h 12m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Liu Chien-pang, Taipei, 24th) A Lin-surnamed man in his 30s attempted to rob the CTBC Bank in Taipei's East District this afternoon holding a BB gun and a fake grenade. Fortunately, bank staff alertly called the police. After a large police force arrived at the scene, Lin was subdued. Initial police investigations suggest Lin committed the crime due to economic pressure and had no accomplices.
The CTBC Bank near the intersection of Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, and Section 1, Da'an Road in Taipei City was subjected to a robbery attempt this afternoon. After receiving the report from the bank staff, the Taipei City Police Department dispatched a large number of officers to the scene. Fortunately, the suspect was ultimately subdued and failed to get away with the money.
Taipei City Police Commissioner Lin Yen-tien rushed to the scene to take command after the incident. In a joint media interview at the scene, he said the report was received at 3:32 PM, and the police dispatched on-duty patrol officers, precinct officers, and the SWAT team (Pili Squad) to the scene within 3 minutes.
Lin Yen-tien stated that after arriving, the large police force found the suspect packing money inside the bank's vault. Officers engaged in a brief standoff with the suspect before successfully subduing him, preventing him from escaping with the loot.
Lin Yen-tien mentioned that according to preliminary investigations, the suspect, a man surnamed Lin, dragged a suitcase and carried a BB gun and a fake grenade into the bank, informing staff of his intent to rob. He was subsequently taken to the bank's vault to collect cash. While the staff were packing about NT$10 million into the suitcase, the massive police force had already arrived. There were no accomplices in this case, and the man surnamed Lin is suspected to have committed the robbery due to economic pressure.
A local neighborhood warden (borough chief), interviewed by the media, said he was informed by residents about a robbery at the time of the incident. Upon arriving, he saw the police in a standoff with the suspect, who was subsequently subdued. Based on his understanding, the Lin-surnamed suspect is a local resident and an object of care within the borough. There were no abnormal signs before the crime, and he expressed surprise after the incident.
The Da'an Precinct of the Taipei City Police Department issued a press release stating that the Dunhua South Road Police Station received a report that a man with a suspected gun and an explosive device had broken into the CTBC Bank Zhongxiao Branch, controlling people on-site and attempting a robbery. Through the rapid response of police officers, the suspect was successfully subdued within 15 minutes, and the scene was secured without danger.
The police said that after entering the bank, the suspect used the suspected gun and a grenade-like object to threaten personnel inside the bank, forcing a security guard to lead him to the vault. The gun and grenade held by the suspect were verified through initial checks to be imitation items without substantial lethal capability.
The police added that they will continue to review relevant evidence to clarify Lin's motive and the detailed sequence of events. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office stated that the bank robbery case is already being investigated under the direction of Prosecutor Li Ming-che. After inspecting the scene and briefing the public on the police's handling of the situation, Lin Yen-tien subsequently went to the Dunnan Police Station to comfort the officers. (Editor: Lung Po-an)
(CNA Reporter Liu Chien-pang, Taipei, 24th) A Lin-surnamed man in his 30s attempted to rob the CTBC Bank in Taipei's East District this afternoon holding a BB gun and a fake grenade. Fortunately, bank staff alertly called the police. After a large police force arrived at the scene, Lin was subdued. Initial police investigations suggest Lin committed the crime due to economic pressure and had no accomplices.
The CTBC Bank near the intersection of Section 4, Zhongxiao East Road, and Section 1, Da'an Road in Taipei City was subjected to a robbery attempt this afternoon. After receiving the report from the bank staff, the Taipei City Police Department dispatched a large number of officers to the scene. Fortunately, the suspect was ultimately subdued and failed to get away with the money.
Taipei City Police Commissioner Lin Yen-tien rushed to the scene to take command after the incident. In a joint media interview at the scene, he said the report was received at 3:32 PM, and the police dispatched on-duty patrol officers, precinct officers, and the SWAT team (Pili Squad) to the scene within 3 minutes.
Lin Yen-tien stated that after arriving, the large police force found the suspect packing money inside the bank's vault. Officers engaged in a brief standoff with the suspect before successfully subduing him, preventing him from escaping with the loot.
Lin Yen-tien mentioned that according to preliminary investigations, the suspect, a man surnamed Lin, dragged a suitcase and carried a BB gun and a fake grenade into the bank, informing staff of his intent to rob. He was subsequently taken to the bank's vault to collect cash. While the staff were packing about NT$10 million into the suitcase, the massive police force had already arrived. There were no accomplices in this case, and the man surnamed Lin is suspected to have committed the robbery due to economic pressure.
A local neighborhood warden (borough chief), interviewed by the media, said he was informed by residents about a robbery at the time of the incident. Upon arriving, he saw the police in a standoff with the suspect, who was subsequently subdued. Based on his understanding, the Lin-surnamed suspect is a local resident and an object of care within the borough. There were no abnormal signs before the crime, and he expressed surprise after the incident.
The Da'an Precinct of the Taipei City Police Department issued a press release stating that the Dunhua South Road Police Station received a report that a man with a suspected gun and an explosive device had broken into the CTBC Bank Zhongxiao Branch, controlling people on-site and attempting a robbery. Through the rapid response of police officers, the suspect was successfully subdued within 15 minutes, and the scene was secured without danger.
The police said that after entering the bank, the suspect used the suspected gun and a grenade-like object to threaten personnel inside the bank, forcing a security guard to lead him to the vault. The gun and grenade held by the suspect were verified through initial checks to be imitation items without substantial lethal capability.
The police added that they will continue to review relevant evidence to clarify Lin's motive and the detailed sequence of events. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office stated that the bank robbery case is already being investigated under the direction of Prosecutor Li Ming-che. After inspecting the scene and briefing the public on the police's handling of the situation, Lin Yen-tien subsequently went to the Dunnan Police Station to comfort the officers. (Editor: Lung Po-an)