Taipei: A drill simulating an indiscriminate attack is set to take place at Taipei Main Station on Thursday from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. During this time, mobile phones within a 1-kilometer radius will receive alert messages. Travelers are advised to allow additional time while passing through the station as access controls and traffic measures may be implemented, according to the Taipei City government.

According to Focus Taiwan, the live exercise will be conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Transportation and Communications. The drill aims to evaluate the coordination among transit operators, retailers, and emergency services under scenario-based conditions. This exercise is a response to several indiscriminate knife attacks that occurred at MRT Taipei Main Station and near MRT Zhongshan Station on December 19 of the previous year, which resulted in four fatalities, including the suspected perpetrator.

Alert messages will be sent to inform recipients in both Chinese and English that the event is a "drill." The messages will advise people to remain calm, seek immediate cover, and avoid gathering or onlooking. The messages will clearly identify the Taipei City government as the sender.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced that additional joint security drills are in the works ahead of the Lunar New Year. These drills will include scenarios involving multiple attackers across city boundaries. Taipei Main Station, the only hub in Taiwan that integrates five rail systems, serves an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 passengers daily.