Knife Rampage in Taipei Leaves Three Dead, Nine Injured

At least three people were killed and nine injured in Taipei after a 27-year-old man, Chang Wen, went on a knife attack across metro stations and shopping areas. He set off smoke bombs and Molotov cocktails before falling from a building and dying in hospital. Authorities, citing his criminal record, have increased security and launched an investigation into his motives, marking Taiwan’s first major attack of this kind since 2014.

At least three people have been killed and nine others injured after a knife-wielding attacker went on a violent rampage across Taipei, Taiwan’s capital. The suspect, a 27-year-old man identified by authorities as Chang Wen, initially set off smoke bombs at Taipei Main Station, one of the city’s busiest transit hubs, before moving to another station in a crowded shopping district while stabbing people along the way, according to Taiwanese Premier Cho Jung-tai. The motive for the attack remains unclear.

The incident occurred at around 17:20 local time (09:20 GMT) during the city’s evening rush hour, causing widespread panic as commuters and shoppers fled the scene. Social media footage showed an individual wearing a baseball cap and dark clothing throwing smoke bombs across busy streets while carrying a large knife, moving past several vehicles.
Premier Cho reported that the suspect had also detonated Molotov cocktails at Taipei Main Station, which is linked to a popular underground shopping street. A man who reportedly attempted to intervene was struck with a blunt object by the attacker and later died in hospital. Chang Wen then fled through an underground shopping center to the nearby Zhongshan Station, about 800 meters away. He briefly returned to his hotel to retrieve a weapon before running back to the street outside Zhongshan Station, where he set off additional smoke bombs and stabbed more victims.

The attacker entered a nearby bookshop and department store before falling from a multi-storey building when police surrounded him. He was taken to a hospital but later died from his injuries. Authorities confirmed that the suspect had a prior criminal record and was wanted by law enforcement.

Attacks of this nature are extremely rare in Taiwan, which generally has low rates of violent crime. The last major incident of this type in Taipei occurred in 2014, when a man killed four people on an underground train. That perpetrator was later executed in 2016.

In response to the latest attack, Premier Cho announced increased security measures at metro and railway stations, as well as airports, while authorities investigate the suspect’s background and potential connections to determine his motives. Taiwan’s President William Lai also promised a swift and thorough investigation into the incident to prevent future occurrences.