At least three people have died and five others have been injured following a knife attack in Taipei, Taiwan’s capital. The assailant, a 27-year-old man, initiated his rampage by detonating smoke bombs at the main metro station on Friday, before proceeding to another station in a bustling shopping area, where he stabbed several individuals, according to Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai. The attacker reportedly fell from a building and later succumbed to his injuries; however, his motive remains unclear.
Such violent incidents are rare in Taiwan, a country known for its low rates of violent crime. The last comparable attack occurred in 2014. Friday’s violence unfolded during the city’s evening rush hour, with social media videos capturing the chaos as people fled in panic.
Premier Cho stated that the suspect had used smoke bombs and Molotov cocktails during the assault at Taipei’s Main Station, which connects to a busy underground shopping area. One man attempted to intervene but was struck with a blunt object and later died at the hospital. Afterward, the attacker traveled approximately 800 meters to another subway station, where he activated more smoke bombs and continued his assault.
In response to this horrific event, Cho has ordered increased security measures at metro and railway stations, as well as at airports. “We will investigate the suspect’s background and relationships to understand his motives and determine if there are other connected factors,” Cho told Reuters.
Taiwan’s President William Lai has also pledged a rapid investigation into the incident. The last major violent attack in Taipei shocked the nation when a man killed four individuals on an underground train in 2014; that perpetrator was executed two years later.
Original Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx251p7k23mo
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Publish Date: 2025-12-19 21:32:00
