Taipei Metro Stabbing: 3 Dead in Taiwan Attack 🇹🇼

A knife-wielding attacker killed at least three people at metro stations in Taipei, Taiwan, before dying by suicide after attempting to evade police, authorities said.

Taipei Metro Attacks Leave Four Dead

Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai said the attacks at Taipei Main Station and Zhongshan station were “a deliberate act,” though the motive remains unclear. The suspect has been identified as 27-year-old Chang Wen.

Cho stated the suspect wore a mask and deployed “five or six gasoline bombs or smoke grenades” at Taipei Main Station.

The Taipei City Fire Department confirmed a total of four fatalities, including the suspect, and five injuries.

According to the city’s mayor, one of the victims died while attempting to stop the attack at the Main Station. “Unfortunately, he was attacked and passed away … we are all deeply saddened,” Mayor Chiang Wan-an told reporters.

“Currently, we understand that the suspect committed suicide by jumping from a building to evade arrest and has been confirmed dead,” he said.

Earlier reports indicated three people suffered cardiac arrest as a result of the attacks, with several others sustaining injuries from stab wounds and blunt force trauma.

Authorities have increased security measures across the island, with heightened vigilance at key locations including railway stations, highways, subway stations, and airports.

Images from Taiwan’s Central News Agency show a canister at the Main Station, with officers examining evidence. A video circulating on social media depicts a thick cloud of white smoke in an underground section of a metro station.

President Lai Ching-te stated Taiwanese authorities would “quickly clarify the details of the case,” adding, “There will be no leniency and we will do everything in our power to ensure the safety of our citizens.”

Violent crime is rare in Taiwan. A similar attack in 2014, where a man stabbed four people on Taipei’s metro, resulted in the perpetrator’s execution in 2016.

AFP/AP