Attack in downtown Taipei: Young man with a knife sows death and terror
At least three people were killed and five wounded at the city's main station in an attack whose motives are still unclear. The perpetrator, a 27-year-old Taiwanese man known to law enforcement, was killed in a scuffle with police. President Lai Ching-te said that security was tightened across the island.
Taipei (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Three people were killed and five wounded when a young man armed with a long knife sowed panic this evening in downtown Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, before falling to his death from a building during a police chase.
According to Premier Cho Jung-tai, the man threw smoke bombs into Taipei's main train station and then headed to a nearby subway station in a busy shopping district, attacking people along the way.
The attacker is believed to be a 27-year-old Taiwanese man with a criminal record and outstanding arrest warrants, Cho told reporters.
“We will investigate his background and associated relationships to understand his motives and determine if there are other connected factors,” he said, identifying the man only by his last name, Chang.
Taiwanese media had previously reported that at least nine people had been injured after a man threw smoke bombs at Taipei’s main station, the city's busiest.
He later attacked people with a knife near the Zhongshan subway station. The suspect was also wearing what appeared to be protective armour and a mask.
“It appears he deliberately threw smoke bombs and wielded a long knife to carry out indiscriminate attacks on the public,” Cho added.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said in a Facebook post that security measures have been tightened across the island.
He added that a full investigation will be conducted and that the government will make every effort to ensure public safety.
Lai also urged people not to forward unverified messages, while the motive for the killing remains unclear.
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22/05/2024 16:38
