Ask Onix
Attack in Taipei leaves three dead, nine wounded
A 27-year-old man armed with a knife and smoke bombs killed three people and injured nine others during Friday's evening rush hour in Taipei, Taiwan's capital, authorities confirmed.
Timeline of the rampage
The suspect, identified as Chang Wen, began his attack at approximately 17:20 local time (09:20 GMT) at Taipei Main Station, where he detonated smoke bombs and Molotov cocktails, Premier Cho Jung-tai stated.
Footage circulating on social media captured panicked crowds fleeing as the assailant, wearing a baseball cap and black clothing, hurled smoke bombs across a busy road before brandishing a large knife.
Suspect's movements and fatal fall
After the initial assault, Chang fled through an underground shopping center to Zhongshan Station, roughly 800 meters away. He briefly returned to his hotel to retrieve a weapon before resuming his attack outside the station, stabbing additional victims and setting off more smoke bombs.
A bystander who attempted to intervene was struck with a blunt object and later died in hospital, according to officials. The suspect then entered a nearby bookshop and department store, where he fell from a multi-story building after police surrounded the area. He was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Authorities respond and probe motive
Premier Cho announced heightened security at metro stations, railway hubs, and airports following the incident. He directed investigators to examine Chang's background, relationships, and potential motives, as reported by Reuters.
"We will investigate his background and associated relationships to understand his motives and determine if there are other connected factors,"
Premier Cho Jung-tai
President William Lai pledged a swift and thorough investigation into the attack.
Context and prior incidents
Local media revealed that Chang had a criminal record and was wanted by authorities. Violent attacks of this nature are rare in Taiwan, which maintains low rates of violent crime.
The last comparable incident occurred in 2014, when a man killed four people on a Taipei subway train. The perpetrator of that attack was executed in 2016.
