Taiwan police capture an illegal taxi driver after firing 8 shots at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on September 20. Photo: ettoday.net

Gunfire erupted at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport on Saturday morning after aviation police confronted an illegal taxi driver, according to Taiwan media reports. 

At around 9:15 am at Meeting Point No. 16 in the Terminal 1 arrival lane, a white Tesla was caught illegally soliciting passengers. When approached and asked to be inspected by aviation police, he refused to cooperate and fled, and allegedly attempted to hit the police officers. 

A female passenger from Hong Kong was thrown out of the vehicle and narrowly avoided being run over. 

The police said that the driver accelerated in an attempt to crash into the police car and the officers, who fired eight shots - first warning shots into the air and then shots targeting the car's tires - to prevent more serious harm and protect bystanders. 

The driver was eventually subdued and taken into custody, reportedly protesting what he called excessive police force.

The case has been referred for investigation, with the driver facing charges of endangering public safety.

The female passenger suffered a foot contusion and was taken to the Min-Sheng General Hospital in Taoyuan by airport firefighters. She was examined and kept for observation for about half an hour. 

Neither the police nor the driver was injured, according to reports.

The video of the shooting has circulated widely on social media, sparking controversy among internet users. Some netizens questioned whether the situation warranted eight shots from the police and alleged that the force used was excessive. Some netizens accused the police of "violent arrest."

But some netizens believed that the police had already exercised restraint, and others said that the police need to strictly enforce law for the sake of public safety.

Taiwan media noted that while unlicensed vehicles are banned from operating at the Taoyuan International Airport, such violations have surged in recent years.

The police said they will step up enforcement against illegal soliciting around the airport to safeguard passenger safety.

Global Times