Taipei, Taiwan — At least three people, including the suspected attacker, were killed on Friday after a 27-year-old man carried out a knife and grenade attack in central Taipei, authorities said.
The attack began in and around Taipei Main Station, a major transportation hub in the Taiwanese capital, before spreading to nearby commercial areas. Several others were injured before the suspect died by suicide while fleeing police, according to officials.
Local media reported that the assailant jumped from a building as officers attempted to arrest him. One victim, a man in his 50s, died from cardiac arrest caused by the grenade attack, while a second victim, believed to be in his 30s, suffered a fatal stab wound to the neck. Emergency services said seven other people were injured, one of them seriously.
Videos circulating on social media and verified by EFE showed a masked man wearing what appeared to be protective armor and carrying a knife, allegedly attacking pedestrians at random. The Taipei Fire Department said it received the first emergency call at 5:24 p.m. local time, reporting that gas grenades had been thrown inside the station.
Smoke from the grenades forced trains passing through the station to skip stops until platforms were cleared. After deploying the grenade, the suspect reportedly moved to a nearby commercial district, where multiple people were stabbed on the street.
Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an told reporters that the attacker was a Taiwanese man born in 1998 who later died by suicide after jumping from a store while being chased by police. The suspect was identified as Chang Wen, who allegedly had an outstanding arrest warrant for evading mandatory military service.
In response, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said on Facebook that the government would “do everything possible to ensure public safety,” including strengthening security measures, and announced an investigation into the motive behind the attack. Prime Minister Cho Jung-tai said he had ordered increased patrols and security checks at train stations and other major transit points nationwide.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and whether the suspect acted alone.
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