Rare mass stabbing rocks Taipei, leaves four dead

At least four people were killed and several others injured after a rare mass stabbing incident erupted in central Taipei on Friday, when a lone attacker used smoke grenades to sow panic during rush hour before launching a violent rampage across the city.

Authorities said the suspected assailant, identified as a 27-year-old man from Taoyuan, was among the fatalities after he fell from a building while being pursued by police through a busy shopping district. The attack began at Taipei Main Station, one of the capital’s busiest transport hubs, and later spilled into the nearby Zhongshan commercial area.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an said one of the victims was killed while attempting to stop the attacker inside the station.

Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai described the incident as a “deliberate attack,” adding that the suspect had a prior criminal record and outstanding warrants. Local media reported that the man was wanted by prosecutors in 2024 for allegedly obstructing military service after failing to report for duty.

The suspect was reportedly a former air force volunteer soldier assigned to a radio communications unit near Taipei’s Songshan Airport before being discharged in 2022. As of late Friday, authorities said the motive behind the attack remained unknown.

President Lai Ching-te said security would be tightened nationwide following the incident and warned there would be “no leniency” for those responsible.

Videos circulating on social media showed thick smoke filling underground stations as commuters fled. In one clip, the suspect appeared to throw smoke grenades toward crowds before entering a shopping mall and randomly slashing at passersby with a long knife.

“The scene was terrifying and smelled awful,” one resident said in a post accompanying footage from the area.

Violent crime is uncommon in Taiwan, though a series of stabbing incidents in recent years has raised public concern. In 2014, a fatal attack on the Taipei metro killed four people, prompting long-term security reforms across the transit system.