At least three people died and 11 were hospitalized after an attack with smoke bombs and knife committed by a 27-year-old man, also deceased, outside two subway stations in Taipei, the capital of Taiwan.
One of the deceased, aged 57, confronted the attacker to put an end to their attempts to indiscriminately stab all passers-by, after attempting to stun passers-by with smoke bombs. Ultimately, he was seriously injured and caused his death.
Another victim also died as a result of the stabbings and the third died as a result of cardiorespiratory arrest caused by the pomegranates launched by the attacker, according to the official CNA news agency.
After the attack, the alleged attacker, identified as Chang Wen, reportedly committed suicide. jump from the sixth floor of a building as police attempted to arrest him, according to Taiwanese media.
The Taoyuan District Prosecutor’s Office said the individual must have attended a military service quotefor which an arrest warrant had already been issued against him in mid-July.
“To ensure the safety of citizens and maintain social order, I have given immediate instructions to the police department and all relevant units to strengthen security and patrol mechanisms throughout the city,” said Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an.
They exclude a terrorist act
The Director General of the National Police, Chang Jung Hsing, appeared at a press conference to reassure the population in the face of what he described as a “random attack” without terrorist motivations.
Among the attacker’s personal effects, found in a suitcase he had with him at the time of the attack, the Police found survival equipment, 17 smoke grenades (including two unused), 15 bottles of gasoline, tactical vests and knives.
At the deceased’s home, the police discovered four knivesa burned-out laptop and five drums. He was also staying in a hotel room where police discovered 23 cans of gasoline and two locked electronic tablets.
The hotel was only 50 meters from the crime scene, which allows us to conclude that the attacker had committed “a planned random attack“, according to statements by the police chief, also collected by the CNA.
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