Motorcycle punks go berserk (Updated 12:17 a.m.)
2005/9/19
The China Post staff
Teenage motorcycle punks, better known in Japan as bosozoku (violent racing tribe), apparently went berserk cutting a bloody swath in suburban Taipei littered with 12 wounded high school students yesterday.
Police were able to arrest five of the bosozoku, who said they wanted to avenge a wronged pal but got the wrong culprits.
"We just wanted revenge," said one of the five minors, identified only by his family name of Chang.
He told investigators none of the bosozoku knew exactly who were responsible for manhandling their buddy. "So we sped out in droves and tried to find some or any likely offenders and right the wrong."
They, about 20 on their speeding bikes, found the 12 students who were just returning from a night barbecue party to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival one day ahead.
The attackers and the attacked did not know each other.
One victim told investigators the attackers even said sorry for attacking the innocent.
Other victims jotted down some of the motorbike tag numbers, and police could track down the five, whose identity was withheld.
"We're looking for others," said Captain Chang Chuan-chung, deputy Taipei county chief of police. "They are just rebels without any cause at all," he added.
Apparently one of the score punks was beaten up by another teenage gang. He could not identify any of those who attacked him in Tucheng, a quiet town only a 40 minutes' drive away from downtown Taipei.
Tucheng is under the jurisdiction of Taipei county.
Two students, both seniors, were attacked in front of a motorbike shop in downtown Tucheng. One of them had his left arm all but cut off.
He was placed on a critical list at East Asia Hospital in Tucheng, where the other 11 youngsters were also treated for knife cuts, fractured bones, and broken arms.
The insane attack occurred shortly after 1 a.m. From the motorbike store the racing bosozoku chased other students, and caught them up in front of a gas station a few minutes later.
The last assault took place near a public park at 1:23 a.m.
Later, investigators said, the punks raced near Hai Shan Industrial High School in search of more victims. They tended to think a school gang got their friend. Fortunately, they found none.
One thing which Captain Chang could not understand was why the errant teenagers could attack complete strangers without compunction.
"They probably thought it's just fun," the deputy police chief said. "They continued their racing after the attacks, and two of them were arrested hours later at their homes, looking perfectly innocent."
The two just returned home from their fun ride-out to meet arresting officers.
Topic: Motorcycle punks go berserk /Taipei (Read 2519 times)