2 men indicted over failed cyanide bombings of high-speed train, lawmaker's office in Taiwan

TAIPEI, Taiwan – Prosecutors in Taiwan have indicted two men on charges of planting cyanide-tainted bombs on a high-speed train and at a lawmaker's office.

The devices failed to explode.

The Xinbei Prosecutors' Office said late Thursday that Hu Tsung-hsien arranged for Chu Ya-dong to place two pieces of luggage at each location. Each had a timer meant to set off an attached gas can and release toxic cyanide into the air.

It said Hu had placed short sell orders on the local stock exchange before the April 12 bomb attempts, betting that the bombings would destroy investor confidence and reap him huge profits.

Hu has denied the charges. Chu has said he placed the suitcases without knowing what they contained.