Two people have been killed and three others injured after a gunman opened fire at a busy temple in Taiwan today.
The incident occurred in the early afternoon local time during a celebratory event at the shrine in New Taipei City, according to local media.
The temple is said to be located on Rixin Jie in Tucheng District, reported news website on.cc.
Police seal off the street after a gunman allegedly opened fire at a crowded temple in Taiwan
The incident took place in the early afternoon today and two people were killed, said media
The incident occurred at around 1pm when the temple was giving away 4,000kg (8,818 lbs) free rice to the public during a celebration, said various media, including on.cc and Apple Daily.
The suspect, described to be a man, had disguised himself as a volunteer and entered the temple with the crowd.
The name of the temple has not been revealed.
The suspect was said to shoot in the direction of the temple’s master and his entourage before fleeing.
As he tried to escape, he turned around and shot three more times towards the crowd.
The suspect reportedly managed to escape into a small alleyway.
New Taipei City Fire-fighting Bureau arrived at the scene after receiving information at 1:28pm, according to the on.cc report.
Staff at the firefighting department said that three men and two women were injured, reported China News, citing Taiwan’s CNA News.
Two men, aged 19 and 30, had been dead when the rescuers arrived.
The other three people, a 60-year-old woman, a 60-year-old man and a 50-year-old woman were taken to the hospital.
On.cc reported that the temple’s master was among the two who were killed, and the nephew of a former politician at the Democratic Progressive Party were wounded.
The police are investigating the case.
They suspected the gunman was a local ‘who is familiar with the neighbourhood’ and the shootings were an act of revenge.