TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — A 49-year-old man surnamed Tu (杜) drove his graffiti-covered Mercedes-Benz into a barrier outside the Presidential Office at 4:41 p.m. on Monday (July 1).

His car was spray painted with phrases ranging from “SOS” to “cognitive warfare,” “AI transformation,” and “national security information invasion,” among other messages. No one was injured in the crash, as Tu was quickly subdued and taken into police custody as a threat to public safety.

Police tried to stop Tu as he approached the Presidential Office, but he suddenly accelerated and crashed into the protective barrier, per UDN.

Tu was administered a breathalyzer, but no alcohol was found in his system. 

After being taken into custody, Tu appeared mentally unstable and, during interrogation later that evening, was unable to make a coherent statement. He was later transferred to the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for further investigation on Tuesday morning (July 2).

Before crashing into the Presidential Office barriers, Tu’s car appeared outside the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) in Neihu at 3 p.m. He repeatedly honked to draw attention to messages spray-painted on his car.