A random knife attack broke out in the heart of Taipei, Taiwan's capital, ahead of the year-end.
According to Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) and the Associated Press on the 20th, Chang Lung-shing, commissioner of the National Police Agency under the Ministry of the Interior, said that as of 10:30 p.m. on the previous day, four people were dead and 11 were injured in incidents around Taipei Station and Zhongshan Station, both subway stations.
The dead included the perpetrator, a 27-year-old man, Zhang Wen (張文). On the day of the incident, around 5 p.m., Zhang, wearing a gas mask, threw smoke grenades in an underground passage at Taipei Main Station and attacked nearby pedestrians. A man in his 50s was stabbed and taken to a hospital but died. Zhang then moved about 1 kilometer to a shopping district near Zhongshan Station, set off more smoke grenades, and wielded a knife at people, including a motorcycle rider.
The rampage continued to the large department store "Eslite Spectrum Nanshi" nearby. Inside the building, Zhang was chased by police and jumped from the fifth floor, was taken to a hospital, and died. At the scene, a knife, gasoline bottles, 17 smoke grenades, and survival gear were found.
Police confirmed that Zhang had scouted the crime scenes in advance and, the day before the attack, asked how to access the department store roof. Searches of his home and hotel room turned up multiple items for making Molotov cocktails. Chang Lung-shing, the National Police Agency commissioner, said, "This does not appear to be terrorism but seems to be a highly planned crime," adding, "We have found no accomplices."
Zhang was reportedly expelled from military service in the past over a drinking problem and, after failing to fulfill his service obligation, was placed on a wanted list in July this year. He was unemployed until recently and is said to have had no contact with his family for more than two years.
The Taiwan government raised its year-end and New Year security posture to the highest level in the wake of the incident. Taipei City strengthened security at major public facilities such as railways, subways, and airports. President Lai Ching-te ordered authorities to "raise the national alert level to protect citizen safety and track the motive and background to the end."
Shock is spreading as many people directly witnessed the bloodshed in a crowded downtown area. Posts with videos from the scene are spreading quickly on social media (SNS), heightening public anxiety.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said, "One citizen who tried to stop the suspect eventually died," emphasizing, "We will immediately carry out public safety checks and support measures." Local media noted, "Until police intervened, the suspect moved between several areas and continued the attacks," adding, "A gap in downtown policing exacerbated the damage."