Taiwan police shoot man suspected of planting explosive device

Police in southern Taiwan shot a man on Saturday suspected of planting a possible explosive device outside a campaign office for the island's main opposition party, the Kuomintang. Taiwan holds presidential and parliamentary elections on Jan. 11, and campaigning is in full swing with the Kuomintang challenging the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of President Tsai Ing-wen, who is currently far ahead in the polls.

The device, planted outside the entrance to a Kuomintang office in Tainan city, contain wires, liquid and powder, the official Central News Agency reported. Police tracked a suspect, to the neighbouring city of Kaohsiung and after a 14-hour stand-off stormed a building and shot the man, who was taken to hospital, it said. Police are investigating the motives of the man.