Taiwanese officials urge calm after tweet sparks buzz over Islamic State skyscraper attack
Cabinet spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said: “Government authorities are still verifying the threat ... there is no need to be panicked and the government will keep a watch on developments."
Taiwanese authorities have urged the public not to panic after a tweeted picture sparked a buzz on social media over a possible Islamic State terrorist attack on the island nation’s landmark Taipei 101 skyscraper.
The #FreeShamiWitness@KhilafahTime post on Tuesday, showing the building under attack and in flames, included a text with the threat: “When Islamic State attack your cities it won’t look nice. By the permission of Allah that day is not far.”
The posting sparked a social media storm and led Taiwanese authorities to trigger an emergency liaison response, which alerted military, foreign affairs, inland security, police and immigration officials.
However, Cabinet spokesman Sun Lih-chyun said: “Government authorities are still verifying the threat and we have launched an emergency mechanism to handle everything.
“There is no need to be panicked and the government will keep a watch on developments.”
A spokesman for Taipei 101 said management of the building remained in “close contact and were co-ordinating with security and police authorities”.